Cold snap sparks rare sight of snowmen and snowballs in Brazil

Ice covers trees at dawn during a cold snap in Sao Joaquim, Brazil (Mycchel Legnaghi/AP)

A fierce cold snap has prompted snowfall in southern Brazil, with snow accumulating on the streets of cities where the wintry phenomenon is rarely seen.

At least 43 cities registered either snow or freezing rain late on Wednesday, according to information from Climatempo, a weather service.