The climate of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul is temperate / humid sub-tropical. Its position in the extreme south of the country means that in general there are four seasons relatively well defined as regards the values of temperatures, but with rainfall well distributed throughout the year.
The summers, which occur in the months between December and March, are rather hot with average maximum temperatures around 30 ° C along the coast, while in the interior they decrease by a few degrees depending on the altitude. The average minimum summer temperatures have values around 20 ° C along the coast, while around 700 meters in height they have values between 16 ° C and 17 ° C.
A WET TEMPERATE CLIMATE
The winters, that is the months between June and September, are moderately cold with average minimum temperatures around 11 ° C along the coast and around 9 ° C in the interior, but in some places around 1,000 meters above sea level sometimes the minimum temperatures can drop even below freezing. The average maximum winter temperatures have values between 20 ° C and 18 ° C. The intermediate seasons have mild and pleasant temperatures throughout much of the state.
The rains are well distributed in every month of the year and quite intense. Along the coast there are annual average values varying between 1,100 mm and 1,350 mm, while in the interior the rainfall increases up to values between 1,700 mm and 1,900 mm in the Serra Gaúcha. In general, the rainiest months are the winter months between July and September. In the highest mountains in winter it is sometimes possible to see snow.
The wind regime presents two types of main winds, the pampeiro, a warm but violent wind coming from the pampas, and the minuano, a cold and dry south-western wind, which comes from the Andes and which sometimes blows in winter and autumn bringing a sudden lowering of temperatures.
The sea water temperature remains between 25 ° C and 23 ° C between December and April, reaching a minimum of 17 ° C in winter, between July and September.
WHEN TO GO IN THE RIO GRANDE DO SUL
The best time to visit Rio Grande do Sul are the warmest months between October and May.
THE CLIMATE OF THE RIO GRANDE DO SUL: CLIMATE TABLES
PORTO ALEGRE (10 meters) | ||||
Month | Average low (°C) | Average high (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Precip. days |
January | 20,5 | 30,2 | 105,9 | 9 |
February | 20,8 | 30,1 | 99,2 | 8 |
March | 19,3 | 28,3 | 104,7 | 8 |
April | 16,3 | 25,2 | 77,3 | 7 |
May | 13,0 | 22,1 | 90.0 | 8 |
June | 10,7 | 19,4 | 138,4 | 9 |
July | 10,7 | 19,7 | 118,5 | 9 |
August | 11,5 | 20,4 | 137,1 | 9 |
September | 13,1 | 21,8 | 142,2 | 10 |
October | 15,0 | 24,4 | 121,3 | 9 |
November | 17,0 | 26,7 | 92,4 | 8 |
December | 18,9 | 29,0 | 93,4 | 7 |
YEAR | 15,6 | 24,8 | 1320,2 | 101 |
PASSO FUNDO (690 meters) | ||||
Month | Average low (°C) | Average high (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Precip. days |
January | 17 | 28 | 143 | |
February | 17 | 28 | 148 | |
March | 16 | 27 | 121 | |
April | 13 | 24 | 118 | |
May | 11 | 21 | 131 | |
June | 9 | 18 | 129 | |
July | 9 | 18 | 153 | |
August | 10 | 20 | 165 | |
September | 11 | 21 | 207 | |
October | 13 | 24 | 167 | |
November | 15 | 26 | 141 | |
December | 16 | 28 | 161 | |
YEAR | 1788 |
CAPÃO DA CANOA | |
Month | Sea water temperature °C |
January | 25 |
February | 25 |
March | 25 |
April | 23 |
May | 21 |
June | 18 |
July | 17 |
August | 17 |
September | 17 |
October | 19 |
November | 21 |
December | 23 |