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Rio de Janeiro Weather

Weather in Rio de Janeiro

Aristotle called the Tropic of Capricorn, the latitude on which the vibrant Rio de Janeiro lies, the heart of the world's "Torrid Zone." Spend one full year in the humid, subtropical heat of Rio de Janeiro, and you'll know what he meant. Rio de Janeiro's famous heat is the engine that runs Brazil's most famous city; from the Brazilian bikini clad masses to the pulsing rhythm of samba and Carnival to the friendly and open nature of the cariocas.

Rio de Janeiro Seasons

For American and other Northern hemisphere people, the seasons in Rio de Janeiro are reversed. An American winter is a Brazilian summer. While Americans are wearing black dresses and heavy jackets to their winter New Year's parties, Brazilians are wearing white sundresses and shorts to a hot New Year's celebration on the beach.

Rio de Janeiro Summer: November-February
Rio's summers are famously hot and humid, with temperatures easily reaching 104 degrees Fahrenheit. With so much warm moisture in the air, a cold front for Antarctica can easily make for flash thunderstorms and hurricanes, so summer in Rio de Janeiro is also the wettest time of year. These pass through quickly, leaving the bright blue sky and beach perfect weather (sunscreen and umbrellas are imperative for those not accustomed to the Rio de Janeiro summer) just in time for Carnival in February.

Rio de Janeiro Fall: March-May
March is one of the rainiest months in Rio de Janeiro. Fall in general is hot, with temperatures and humidity levels dropping slightly from the subtropical heat of summer. Rio de Janeiro weather in the later part of fall is one of the best times to visit.

Rio de Janeiro Winter: June-August
When the Earth's axis points North America and Europe towards the sun from June to August, Rio de Janeiro and the Tropic of Capricorn experience a mild winter. Precipitation is at its lowest point of the year, and the weather in Rio de Janeiro is cool, but never cold.

Rio de Janeiro Spring: September-October
For those not accustomed to the searing Rio de Janeiro heat, spring is one of the best times of year to visit Rio de Janeiro. The humidity is low and Rio de Janeiro temperatures are warm.

Best Time to Visit Rio de Janeiro

To escape the cold winters in North America and Europe, a Rio de Janeiro summer in November is one of the best times to visit. To avoid the crowds of Carnival, skip Rio de Janeiro in February and try the hot, but still not oppressively humid, spring in Rio de Janeiro.

What to Pack

Even in winter, Rio de Janeiro is never cold. Light jackets for a winter evening are the heaviest items of clothing to pack when traveling to Rio de Janeiro. For the rest of the year, a bathing suit is one of the most important items of clothing to pack. Or, better yet, buy your Brazilian bikini in one of Rio de Janeiro's famed Brazilian bikini shops.

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