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Brazil Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Brazil in January.

Are you planning a trip a to Brazil in January and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in Brazil in January

The weather in Brazil in January can be quite varied, with temperatures that range from warm to very hot and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between warm in São Joaquim national park at 25°C (77°F) to very hot in Piranhas at 35°C (95°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 24°C (75°F) in Piranhas and 15°C (59°F) in São Joaquim national park. The temperatures cited for both day and night represent usual averages, but it's possible some days could be hotter. It's advisable to dress accordingly to handle the heat.

For specific regional insights in Brazil, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Boa Vista with an average of 38 mm (1.5 in) to heavy rainfall in Paraty with 510 mm (20 in). Based on our climate, it is the month with the most precipitation throughout the year in Rio de Janeiro.

Average sunshine

January brings good sunshine to many areas. Rio de Janeiro sees around 212 hours of sunlight, great for visitors looking for bright days.

Explore Brazil by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Brazil — and find the best time to visit. (based on Rio de Janeiro)

Best Places to Visit in Brazil in January

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Brazil.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Brazil

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Brazil?

Temperature range in Brazil (January)

Precipitation variation in Brazil (January)

Rio de Janeiro

In January Rio de Janeiro generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
31°C (88°F)
32°C (90°F)
Min temperature
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly sun hours
182 hours
212 hours
202 hours
Monthly rainfall
181 mm (7.1 in)
199 mm (7.8 in)
157 mm (6.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
20 days
16 days
Weather conditions

Sao Paulo

In January Sao Paulo generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 19°C (66°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
28°C (82°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
19°C (66°F)
19°C (66°F)
19°C (66°F)
Monthly sun hours
150 hours
170 hours
162 hours
Monthly rainfall
195 mm (7.7 in)
251 mm (9.9 in)
215 mm (8.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
24 days
25 days
22 days
Weather conditions

Florianópolis

In January Florianópolis generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 22°C (72°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
21°C (70°F)
22°C (72°F)
22°C (72°F)
Monthly sun hours
188 hours
178 hours
165 hours
Monthly rainfall
144 mm (5.7 in)
200 mm (7.9 in)
198 mm (7.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
24 days
22 days
Weather conditions

Gramado

In January Gramado generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 17°C (63°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
28°C (82°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
16°C (61°F)
17°C (63°F)
17°C (63°F)
Monthly rainfall
189 mm (7.4 in)
216 mm (8.5 in)
206 mm (8.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
21 days
19 days
Weather conditions

Fortaleza

In January Fortaleza generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
261 hours
221 hours
181 hours
Monthly rainfall
37 mm (1.5 in)
105 mm (4.1 in)
159 mm (6.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
22 days
26 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Brazil.

In our records: Brazil January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Brazil in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • In our records, the warmest January day in Brazil reached 43°C (109°F) in Rio de Janeiro on January 22, 1988.
  • From our sources, the wettest January day in Brazil brought 318 mm (13 in) in Balneário Camboriú on January 31, 2008.

Popular cities in January

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Brazil in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Rio de Janeiro 31°C (88°F) 24°C (75°F) 199 mm (7.8 in)
Florianópolis 29°C (84°F) 22°C (72°F) 200 mm (7.9 in)
Sao Paulo 28°C (82°F) 19°C (66°F) 251 mm (9.9 in)
Fortaleza 31°C (88°F) 25°C (77°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Salvador 29°C (84°F) 26°C (79°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Foz do Iguaçu 33°C (91°F) 22°C (72°F) 166 mm (6.5 in)

Brazil weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Brazil in January?

Expect poor weather across Brazil in January. The popular destination of Rio de Janeiro averages 31°C (88°F) by day and 24°C (75°F) at night during this month.

What is the average temperature in Brazil in January?

Rio de Janeiro averages a daytime maximum of 31°C (88°F) in January, with overnight lows close to 24°C (75°F).

Does Brazil get a lot of rain in January?

Rainfall in Brazil peaks during January. Rio de Janeiro averages roughly 199 mm (7.8 in), so frequent and sometimes heavy showers are the norm.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Brazil?

In our view, January might not be the best time to travel to Brazil with often unpleasant weather in Rio de Janeiro.

Generally speaking, May, June, July, August and September provide perfect weather in Rio de Janeiro. In contrast, January and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Brazil.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Brazil? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Brazil.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.