Weather & Climate

Due to the immense size of Brazil there are five climatic regions:  equatorial, tropical, semi arid, highland tropical, and subtropical.

Sailing conditions for the northern part of the Brazilian coast is under the influence of NE winds which are strongest in the summer between December and February. The rest of the coast is in the SE trade wind belt, which predominates from March to August. Coastal temperatures range from 73°F to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and are well balanced due to the constant trade winds.

The Amazon region is one of the world's rainiest places and between January and May travelling there can be difficult, in the dry season the temperatures can reach around 90°F (32°C).

São Paulo, Brasília, & Belo Horizonte are Plateau cities and have mild climates averaging 66°F (19°C).

The Southern part of Brazil has a subtropical climate and during the winter months the temperature can fall below freezing and occasionally it will snow.

In the North you will find the hottest part of Brazil with May to November being the dry season and average temperatures reach around 100°F (38°C).

The mouth of the Amazon River, near Belem has Brazil's most intense rainfall. The vast upper regions of the Amazonia and along the edge of the great escarpment in the state of São Paulo can have more than 78 inches of rain fall every year.

Generally the rest of Brazil has an average annual rain fall of 39 to 59 inches which occurs in the summer months between December and April. The winters tend to be dry with the northeast region being the driest. In this region rainfall is undependable and the evaporation rate is very high.

Along the coastline the mountains gets its rainfall from the Trade Winds and the rain usually falls on the mountains leaving dryer areas behind it.