Rio de Janeiro in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Rio de Janeiro sees average daytime highs around 29°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 436 mm of rain over about 46 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 28°C in early December to 30°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 24% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Summer is Rio de Janeiro's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Rio de Janeiro's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 29°C
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 24°C
- Rainfall
- 436 mm
- 46 wet days
- Avg wind
- 10 km/h
- Travel score
- 4.5
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Rio de Janeiro in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 28°C in early December to 30°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Rio de Janeiro reaches about 29°C and drops to 24°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
How summer really feels in Rio de Janeiro
Once humidity and wind are folded in, summer brings about 70 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in summer is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Rio de Janeiro weather by month
How the three summer months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30° / 24° | 171 | 16.4 | 13.2 | 4.3 |
| Feb | 30° / 24° | 114 | 13.1 | 12.8 | 4.4 |
| Mar | 29° / 24° | 145 | 16.6 | 12.2 | 4.7 |
| Apr | 28° / 22° | 88 | 12 | 11.5 | 6.0 |
| May | 26° / 20° | 76 | 11.3 | 10.9 | 6.7 |
| Jun | 25° / 19° | 48 | 7.3 | 10.6 | 7.5 |
| Jul | 25° / 18° | 51 | 7.8 | 10.7 | 7.5 |
| Aug | 25° / 19° | 41 | 7.5 | 11.2 | 7.5 |
| Sep | 26° / 20° | 75 | 10.4 | 11.9 | 6.8 |
| Oct | 26° / 21° | 92 | 11.5 | 12.5 | 6.2 |
| Nov | 27° / 22° | 139 | 16 | 13.1 | 5.4 |
| Dec | 29° / 23° | 151 | 16.4 | 13.4 | 4.8 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 24% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Rio de Janeiro gets around 436 mm of rain over 46 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 10 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 13 h 18 min in early December to 12 h 30 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 6.0 kWh/m².
Is summer a good time to visit Rio de Janeiro?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is a reasonable time to visit Rio de Janeiro for sightseeing.
What to pack for Rio de Janeiro in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Rio de Janeiro sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 24°C. Pack light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 46 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Rio de Janeiro in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 25°C across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 25 km away) is warmest in March at about 25°C and coldest in August near 21°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Comfort | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Warm |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25 | Warm |
| Feb | 25 | Warm |
| Mar | 25 | Warm |
| Apr | 25 | Warm |
| May | 24 | Refreshing |
| Jun | 23 | Refreshing |
| Jul | 22 | Refreshing |
| Aug | 21 | Refreshing |
| Sep | 21 | Refreshing |
| Oct | 22 | Refreshing |
| Nov | 23 | Refreshing |
| Dec | 24 | Warm |
UV index in Rio de Janeiro in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 13 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Rio de Janeiro peaks around January 13 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near July 13 at about 5 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 14 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 14 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | High | Moderate | Very high | High | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14 | Extreme |
| Feb | 13 | Extreme |
| Mar | 12 | Extreme |
| Apr | 9 | Very high |
| May | 6 | High |
| Jun | 6 | High |
| Jul | 5 | Moderate |
| Aug | 8 | Very high |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 13 | Extreme |
| Dec | 14 | Extreme |
Air quality in Rio de Janeiro in Summer
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where summer falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Rio de Janeiro is worst in June — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.0× the cleanest month (February, 8 µg/m³).
Seasonal pattern from CAMS reanalysis, scaled to Rio de Janeiro's WHO annual average of 11.4 µg/m³.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | Good |
| Feb | 8 | Good |
| Mar | 9 | Good |
| Apr | 9 | Good |
| May | 13 | Moderate |
| Jun | 17 | Moderate |
| Jul | 16 | Moderate |
| Aug | 13 | Moderate |
| Sep | 14 | Moderate |
| Oct | 11 | Good |
| Nov | 9 | Good |
| Dec | 9 | Good |
Where is Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro sits at 22.9°S, 43.2°W, 12 m above sea level, in Brazil. The nearest listed city is Santa Teresa, 1.0 km away.
Topography around Rio de Janeiro
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Rio de Janeiro.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Rio de Janeiro has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 259 m around an average of 18 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 971 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,252 m.
The land around Rio de Janeiro is covered by artificial surfaces (45%) and water (42%) within 3 km, water (47%), artificial surfaces (26%) and trees (23%) within 16 km, and trees (37%) and water (35%) within 80 km.
Brazil travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type C / N
- 127 / 220 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 46% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $10,713
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.6 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 89%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 19.3
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 16
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Upper middle
- World Bank
- English
- Low
- EF EPI 482
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Rio de Janeiro (-22.9064°, -43.1822°, elevation 12 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.