Volunteers in Brazil's Sao Paulo have been rushing out hot soup to the needy as the city heads towards record low temperatures that would be considered relatively mild in some countries.

Video shot on Friday 19 August showed people in the normally baking hot city wearing wooly hats and thick coats as they ate the hot food handouts.

Some forecasters are predicting the temperature will break a new record this week: that of coldest day of the year.

The expectation is that it will drop to temperatures below 7C (44.6F) due to a mass of polar air crossing some areas of the country.

Strikingly, the sudden chill is coming only a few days after the city recorded its hottest afternoon of this winter (as it is for southern hemisphere countries right now), on Tuesday 16 August.

It hit a maximum temperature of 29.5C according to the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) at 16:00 local time at Mirante de Santana, in the city's North Zone.

Amid the low temperatures, city hall has activated a plan to help the most vulnerable people in the city.

Hot food, snacks and coffee is being distributed to people in the centre of Sao Paulo, particularly in the Sé area.

The video shows a family with children eating the food distributed by volunteers.

This footage was filmed and produced 19 August 2022.

The city of São Paulo could break a new record this week: that of coldest day of the year , as reported by Climatempo. The expectation is that the capital of São Paulo will record minimums below 7ºC due to a mass of polar air that crosses some areas of the country.

The phenomenon occurs a few days after the capital of São Paulo recorded the hottest afternoon of this winter, on Tuesday (16), with a maximum temperature of 29.5ºC, according to the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet). The record temperature was measured at 4 pm, at Mirante de Santana, in the North Zone.

With low temperatures in São Paulo, the city hall activates the reception plan that serves the most vulnerable people in the city and as it will be marked by a drop in temperature, rain and strong winds volunteers help in the distribution of food and snacks and coffee to people in the center of São Paulo, specifically in the Sé region.

The video shows a family with children eating the food distributed by volunteers to survive through these cold days.