São Paulo features a humid subtropical climate with warm, rainy summers and mild, drier winters. The city’s elevation moderates temperatures, creating comfortable conditions year-round. Rainfall is abundant, especially from October to March, while humidity and air pollution can create misty days. Seasonal changes bring vibrant festivals, lush parks, and a dynamic atmosphere for travellers in any season.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
São Paulo’s climate is shaped by its location just south of the Tropic of Capricorn and its elevation of about 760 metres. Summers (December–March) are warm, muggy, and wet, with average highs of 27–29°C and lows around 19–20°C. January is the rainiest month, often seeing more than 200 mm of precipitation and up to 25 rainy days. Humidity is high, and thunderstorms are frequent but usually brief, leaving many sunny intervals. Despite the rain, summer is lively, with festivals and outdoor events in full swing.
Winters (June–August) are mild and drier, with average highs of 22–24°C and lows near 12–14°C. Rainfall drops significantly, and sunshine hours increase, making this the most comfortable period for outdoor activities. Frost is rare but possible in outlying areas, and cold snaps can bring temperatures below 10°C. Spring (September–November) and autumn (April–May) are transitional, with pleasant temperatures (17–26°C), moderate rainfall, and blooming jacarandas or colourful foliage. Winds are generally light to moderate, but can be brisk during storms. Annual precipitation averages 1,400–1,540 mm, with about 1,700–2,000 hours of sunshine per year. Air pollution and humidity can create a mist over the city, especially in summer.
| Average climate data for São Paulo, Brazil | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 27 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 28 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 19 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 12 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 237 | 223 | 159 | 73 | 71 | 49 | 44 | 40 | 71 | 128 | 145 | 203 | 1,443 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 15 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 107 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 80 | 79 | 80 | 79 | 79 | 77 | 77 | 75 | 76 | 80 | 78 | 81 | 79 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Average UV index | 12 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 9 |
The best time to visit São Paulo is from April to October, when temperatures are mild (17–25°C), rainfall is lower, and the city is alive with festivals, outdoor events, and blooming parks. These months offer ideal conditions for sightseeing, exploring neighbourhoods, and enjoying São Paulo’s vibrant cultural life with fewer crowds and less humidity.
The least favourable time to visit is from December to March, when São Paulo is hottest, rainiest, and most humid. Frequent afternoon thunderstorms can disrupt outdoor plans, and the city is busier and more expensive due to holidays and Carnival. However, this period is also the most festive, with lively events and celebrations.
São Paulo has a humid subtropical climate with warm, rainy summers and mild, drier winters. Temperatures are comfortable year-round, with the most rain falling from October to March and drier, sunnier weather from April to September.
Summer temperatures in São Paulo typically reach 27–29°C, with high humidity. Heatwaves can push highs above 32°C, but rain and thunderstorms often cool things down. Nights remain warm, rarely dropping below 19°C.
Snow is extremely rare in São Paulo. Winter temperatures usually range from 12–24°C, though occasional cold snaps can bring lows below 10°C, especially in outlying areas. Frost may occur but is uncommon.
The rainiest season is summer (December to March), with January being the wettest month. Rainfall is frequent and heavy, often in the form of afternoon thunderstorms, but sunny intervals are also common.
São Paulo receives about 1,700–2,000 hours of sunshine annually. Summer months have 5–6 hours of sunshine per day, while winter months see up to 6–7 hours daily, making the city bright and lively year-round.
Pack light, breathable clothing and an umbrella for summer. In winter, bring a jumper or light jacket for cool evenings. Comfortable shoes and a rain jacket are useful year-round, as weather can change quickly.
São Paulo is humid, especially in summer, with humidity often above 75%. Winds are usually light to moderate, but can be brisk during storms. Air pollution and humidity can create misty days, especially in summer.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is February (28 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is July (21.9 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 24.9 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is February (18.9 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is July (11.6 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 15.5 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is January (236.7 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is August (40.1 mm). Over the whole year there are 1,442.9 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is January (14.9 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is July (4 days). Over the whole year there are 107.2 days of rain on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (80.8 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is August (74.7 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 78.5 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is December (Average daylight: 13.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is June (Average daylight: 10.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.7 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 6 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 4 h). Over the whole year there are 5 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are January, February, March, November and December (UV index: 12). The months with the lowest average UV index are June and July (UV index: 5). Over the whole year the average UV index is 9.3.
