Best time to visit Rio de Janeiro
The best time to visit Rio de Janeiro for a beach holiday is from April to October, when temperatures are generally pleasant, with little or no rain.
Rio de Janeiro is regarded as a year-round destination.
Rio de Janeiro weather
Rio de Janeiro enjoys a tropical climate, with a relatively cool season from May to October and a hot, humid and rainy season from December to March, with November and April as intermediate months.
The city is surrounded by forested hills, which means that the summit of Mount Corcovado, at 710 m (2,329 ft) high, which features the statue of Christ the Redeemer, is about 4°C (7°F) lower than at sea level.
Summer, between December and March, is hot, wet and humid with temperatures ranging from 24°C (75°F) to 36°C (97°F). December is the wettest month.
Winter temperatures, from June to September, average a high of 26°C (78°F), but can drop to below 16°C (60°F) at night in July. August is the driest month.
What is the best month to visit Rio de Janeiro?
April through October are the best months to visit Rio de Janeiro – you can expect warm, sunny weather, with clear blue skies and little or no rainfall.
Which is the hottest month in Rio de Janeiro?
The hottest month in Rio de Janeiro is usually February, when maximum daytime temperatures usually reach 31°C (87°F), with high heat and humidity, and a low of 24°C (75°F)
The hot season lasts from late-December to mid-March, with an average daily high temperature above 30°C (86°F).
However, on the warmest days of summer, the temperature may reach 36°C (97°F).
Which is the coldest month in Rio de Janeiro?
The coldest month of the year in Rio de Janeiro is July, with an average high of 25°C (77°F) and a low of 19°C (66°F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16°C (60°F).
The cooler season lasts from mid-May to mid-October, with an average daily high temperature below 26°C (78°F).
Which is the sunniest month in Rio de Janeiro?
The sunniest month in Rio de Janeiro is usually February, with an average of seven hours of sunshine per day; that's on average 56% of daylight hours.
When is the sea warmest in Rio de Janeiro?
The sea is usually at its warmest in Rio de Janeiro in March when the water temperature reaches 26°C (78°F), which is warm enough for swimming.
The sea around Rio de Janeiro is warm enough for swimming from November through to June, with an average temperature above 24°C (75°F); while from July to October, it is a bit cool at around 22°C (72°F).
Which month has the most rain in Rio de Janeiro?
December is usually the wettest month in Rio de Janeiro with 178mm (7in) of rainfall on average, distributed across 18 days.
Rain falls throughout the year in Rio de Janeiro. The wetter season lasts from November through to March, with a greater than 40% chance of a given day being a wet day.
The drier season lasts from April through October. The month with the fewest wet days in Rio de Janeiro is July, while August has the lowest rainfall.
Which is the windiest month in Rio de Janeiro?
The windiest month of the year in Rio de Janeiro is September, with an average hourly wind speed of 13 kilometres per hour (8 mph; 7 knots).
The windy part of the year lasts from mid-July through to mid-November, with average wind speeds of more than 12 kilometres per hour (7.5 mph; 6.5 knots).
The less-windy time of year lasts from mid-Novembe through to mid-July. The calmest month of the year in Rio de Janeiro is March, with an average hourly wind speed of 10 kilometres per hour (6 mph; 5 knots).
The predominant average hourly wind direction varies throughout the year in Rio de Janeiro.
Rio de Janeiro Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average daily max (°C) | |||||||||||
| 30 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| Average daily min (°C) | |||||||||||
| 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
| Comfort level | |||||||||||
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| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 77 | 76 | 79 | 78 | 78 | 78 | 78 | 76 | 77 | 77 | 79 | 78 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 11+ | 11+ |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 17 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 18 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 174 | 131 | 129 | 90 | 62 | 45 | 38 | 35 | 65 | 90 | 146 | 178 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
| Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 25 |
| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |||||||||||
Holiday seasons
High season: Rio’s high season runs from mid-December to March when Carnaval (usually in February) and New Year are in full party mode, Easter and July when Brazilian schools take their winter break and in August when Europeans and North Americans take their summer break.
Shoulder season: September and October
Low season: From mid-March (after Carnaval) to May.
Note: Meteorological data is sourced from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Latest update: Best time to visit Rio de Janeiro: 31 August, 2023
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