On Wednesday, São Paulo experienced a dramatic surge in traffic congestion, reaching a record 1,149 kilometers of gridlock, which occurred around 6:30 PM. This spike in traffic was attributed to heavy rains that particularly affected the South, West, and Central regions of the city. The previous record for the year stood at 1,054 kilometers, recorded on February 10, showcasing the challenging traffic situation in São Paulo during adverse weather conditions.

The city has a history of severe traffic issues, especially during rainy days, as evidenced by last year's record of 1,486 kilometers of congestion on a day marked by significant rainfall and public transport disruptions. Such incidents highlight the ongoing struggles of the city's infrastructure to cope with heavy traffic and weather conditions. The data from the Traffic Engineering Company (CET) serve as crucial indicators for urban planners and public officials to address these recurrent issues.

Despite this year’s record, the all-time high remains at 1,902 kilometers, which was logged on September 5, 2019, underlining that São Paulo continues to grapple with extreme traffic conditions on a regular basis. The interplay between weather patterns and traffic volume in such urban environments poses questions about long-term solutions for improving traffic management and mitigating the impact of natural events on daily commutes.