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Weather Overview for Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is dubbed by locals as ‘cidade maravilhosa’ (marvellous city) and it’s easy to understand why; it has one of the most stunning settings of any major city in the world, the infamous Rio Carnival and the samba party’s go long into the night. That is not to even mention the fantastic climate. Sadly the city does, however, suffer huge problems with crime, drug abuse and corruption of which visitors should be aware. Brazil’s most famous city, if not its capital, Rio is found in the southeast of the country on the Atlantic Ocean, and in the northern half of the South America continent.

The climate is tropical, with year round warm temperatures and plenty of rainfall. Average annual temperature is 23 ºC; generally sticking in the range between 17 ºC and 30 ºC though hotter and colder temperatures are possible. Annual rainfall averages a little over 1000mm. The record high ever recorded in Rio is more than 43 ºC and the record low is 4 ºC. Since Rio lies in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed from what we experience in Europe. Being close to the equator, temperatures don’t vary a lot across the year; the warmest months between January and March see average temperatures of 26 ºC and the coolest months June to August average 21 ºC. Summer weather lasts a lot of the year while winter is a comparatively short season. Sun is more common the rain throughout the year, though summer it the wettest time.

Rio, due to its position on the Atlantic coast, can be a windy place and these have a strong effect on the weather. Mostly, sea winds offer welcome respite from hot summer temperatures. A southwest wind normally signals the arrival of a storm, and northerly winds can bring cooler temperatures in summer. The Atlantic Ocean also plays an important part in the weather of Rio. The relative warmth of the waters ensures that temperature extremes are less than that of inland areas of Brazil. Occasional changes of current can bring cold Antarctic waters up the coast of South America and cause cold weather in the region.

Summer

Summer really begins towards the end of November and lasts until March. At this time daily highs average 29 ºC, though they can frequently climb into the 30s and even towards 40 ºC in some parts of the city. This is when you wan the sea breezes to blow! Even at night temperatures remain in the 20s so it really is a hot time. Rainfall is at its highest in summer, over 100mm per month. December is on average the wettest month of the year with 169mm, though in truth rainfall is unpredictable and sunny days or torrential downpours can be just as likely.

Winter

Winter is from June to August. It is still warm but average temperatures are around 5 ºC cooler than summer on average. Sometimes it can drop into the mid-teens so a jacket is handy to have just in case. Rainfall is at its lowest in winter, especially July and August with around 50mm average. Don’t be surprised to see a shower or two though, especially in early and late winter.

Spring and Autumn

Since the equatorial climate gives little seasonal variation spring and autumn are short seasons and don’t herald the dramatic transformations as is seen in more northerly climes. If anything spring is slightly drier than autumn but there is not a lot of difference.

There really isn’t a bad time to visit Rio and the weather doesn’t vary a lot over the year and sunshine is generally plentiful with warm temperatures. Just remember rainy weather can arrive very quickly, almost without warning except to those experienced locals, so always be prepared for a sharp shower.