Brazil Climate

There are five climatic regions in Brazil: equatorial, tropical, semi-arid, highland tropical and subtropical. Being in the Southern hemisphere, it is important to remember that the seasons in Brazil are the reverse of those in Europe and the United States.

Cities such as Sao Paulo and Brasilia, on the plateau, have a mild climate with temperatures averaging 66°F (19°C).

Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Natal and Salvador on the coast have warmer climates balanced by the Trade Winds. Rio, for example, has an average temperature of around 80°F (26°C) which will climb to over 100°F (high 30s) during the summer months.

In the southern Brazilian cities of Porto Alegre and Curitiba, the subtropical climate is similar to parts of the US and Europe, with frosts occurring in the winter months (July to August) when temperatures can fall below freezing. Summers are hot, however.

Despite the popular image of the Amazon as a region of blistering heat, temperatures rarely rise above 90°F (32°C), and days are generally warm, wet and humid. The region has two seasons: a rainy season (November to May) and not-so-rainy season (June to October).