Climate In Brazil

The climatic pattern is largely shaped by Brazil's tropical location and by topographic features. Most of Brazil has high annual average temperatures, above 22° C (72° F). Only in the South and in the highest elevations does the average fall below this. In the higher elevations, the seasonal variation in temperature is more marked. the south has extreme seasonal changes as experienced in Europe and the USA, but most of the country does have noticeable seasonal variations in rainfall, temperature and humidity.

Winter lasts from June to August. The summer season is from December to February. With many Brazilians on holiday at this time, travel is difficult and expensive, while from Rio to the south the humidity can be oppressive. But it's also the most festive time of year, when Brazilians escape their small, hot apartments and take to the beaches and streets. March-November is the driest and best time to visit. In summer, Rio is hot and humid; temperatures in the high 30°Cs are common and sometimes reach the low 40°Cs. Frequent, short rain cools things off a bit, but its the humidity that makes things uncomfortable.

The Northeast coast gets about as hot as Rio during the summer, but due to a wonderful tropical breeze and less humidity, it's rarely stifling. The plana/to (highlands) such as Minas Gerais and Brasilia, are usually a few degrees cooler than the coast and not as humid. Here summer rains are frequent, while along the coast the rains tend to come intermittently. Although there are variations in rainfall throughout Brazil, rain is a year-round affair. The general pattern is for short, tropical rains that come at all times. These rains rarely alter or interfere with travel plans. The sertao is a notable exception - here the rains fall heavily within a few months and periodic droughts devastate the region. The Amazon Basin receives the most rain in Brazil, the average temperature is 27°C but humid. The best time to see it is July-August, when it's neither the peak of the rainy season nor the time when the river is lowest.

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