São Paulo in December
What to expect
December in São Paulo is early summer, with a settled seasonal pattern already in place. The month is warm and inviting for long walks, with a noticeable cool-down after sunset. Most days feel close to what the averages suggest, with straightforward pacing. There is plenty of daylight to stretch outdoor time.
December in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in São Paulo.
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 13.6 h
- UV index (max)
- 10
- Typical sun hours
- 05:15 - 18:48
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 23 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 76%
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 83%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for December. Typical high 26.1°C and low 19.0°C.
Typical disruptions in December
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in December.
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 37% of days (11.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
11.5 days / month
~37% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 11.5 days / month
- Probability ~37% of days
- Intensity Up to ~28mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~11 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 34% of days (10.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
10.6 days / month
~34% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 10.6 days / month
- Probability ~34% of days
- Intensity Up to ~29mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~11 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Hot feels-like days Measures: Hot feels-like days (>=32C). Observed about 27% of days (8.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.3 days / month
~27% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.3 days / month
- Probability ~27% of days
- Intensity Up to ~36°C (P95)
Feels-like heat >=32C is possible on ~8 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 20% of days (6.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
6.3 days / month
~20% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 6.3 days / month
- Probability ~20% of days
- Intensity Up to ~31mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~6 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Muggy days Measures: Muggy days (dew point >=20C). Observed about 19% of days (6.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
6.0 days / month
~19% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 6.0 days / month
- Probability ~19% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21°C (P95)
Muggy conditions are possible on ~6 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Very hot feels-like Measures: Very hot feels-like days (>=35C). Observed about 4% of days (1.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.1 days / month
~4% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.1 days / month
- Probability ~4% of days
- Intensity Up to ~37°C (P95)
Very hot feels-like conditions are possible on ~1 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Show all disruptions (20 more)
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 2.9 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.9 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.9 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~31mm (P95)
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Very heavy rain Measures: Very heavy rain days (>=25mm). Observed about 3% of days (0.9 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.9 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.9 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~45mm (P95)
Very heavy rain is possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 2% of days (0.8 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.8 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.8 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~68km/h (P95)
Stormy conditions are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 2% of days (0.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~70km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Hot days Measures: Hot days (>=30C). Observed about 9% of days (2.9 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.9 days / month
~9% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.9 days / month
- Probability ~9% of days
- Intensity Up to ~32°C (P95)
Hot days are possible on ~3 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 8% of days (2.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.5 days / month
~8% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.5 days / month
- Probability ~8% of days
- Intensity Up to ~95% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Heat stress risk Measures: High heat stress days. Observed about 4% of days (1.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.1 days / month
~4% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.1 days / month
- Probability ~4% of days
- Intensity Up to ~37°C (P95)
Heat stress is possible on ~1 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Feels-like heatwave Measures: Feels-like heatwave runs (>=3 days). Observed about 1.0 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.0 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.0 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~36°C (P95)
Feels-like heatwave runs are possible on ~1 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 84% of days (26.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
26.2 days / month
~84% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 26.2 days / month
- Probability ~84% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~26 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 78% of days (24.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
24.3 days / month
~78% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 24.3 days / month
- Probability ~78% of days
- Intensity Up to ~92% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~24 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 77% of days (23.8 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
23.8 days / month
~77% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 23.8 days / month
- Probability ~77% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~24 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 72% of days (22.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
22.4 days / month
~72% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 22.4 days / month
- Probability ~72% of days
- Intensity Up to ~20h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~22 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Humid days Measures: Humid days (dew point >=18C). Observed about 65% of days (20.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
20.0 days / month
~65% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 20.0 days / month
- Probability ~65% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21°C (P95)
Humid conditions are possible on ~20 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 55% of days (17.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
17.0 days / month
~55% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 17.0 days / month
- Probability ~55% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~17 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 53% of days (16.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
16.5 days / month
~53% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 16.5 days / month
- Probability ~53% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~16 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 34% of days (10.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
10.6 days / month
~34% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 10.6 days / month
- Probability ~34% of days
- Intensity Up to ~60km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~11 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Convective risk Measures: Convective storm risk proxy. Observed about 33% of days (10.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
10.1 days / month
~33% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 10.1 days / month
- Probability ~33% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21°C (P95)
Convective risk signal appears on ~10 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 25% of days (7.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
7.7 days / month
~25% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 7.7 days / month
- Probability ~25% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Overcast skies are possible on ~8 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data Measures: Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data. Observed about 8% of days (2.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.5 days / month
~8% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.5 days / month
- Probability ~8% of days
- Intensity Up to ~95 (P95)
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data is possible on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Heatwave run Measures: Heatwave runs (>=3 hot days). Observed about 0.3 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.3 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.3 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~32°C (P95)
Heatwave runs are possible on ~0 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good time to visit São Paulo?
Typical December days in São Paulo reach highs of 26°C (79°F) with nights around 18°C (64°F). It usually feels warm by day and mild after dark. It is among the wetter months, so it is wise to have some indoor backup plans or flexible activities.
What are temperatures like in December?
In December, you can usually expect highs of 26°C (79°F) and lows near 18°C (64°F). That means warm days and mild nights, so pack layers you can add or remove.
How much does it rain in December?
Rainfall in December averages 173 mm (6.8 in) across roughly 23 days. Overall it is a very wet time of year, so a light rain jacket and waterproof shoes are very handy.
How many hours of daylight are there in December?
You can expect about 14 hours of daylight in December. Sunrise is typically around 05:15 and sunset near 18:48. You get long days with comfortable amounts of daylight.
How strong is the sun in December?
UV levels frequently reach very high levels (around 10), so strong sun protection is essential, especially around midday.
Is it windy in December?
In December, average wind speeds are around 11 km/h (7 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 48 km/h (30 mph). On the ground, it is it often feels breezy, especially in more exposed spots or along the coast.