Rio de Janeiro weather in December

Rio de Janeiro averages 29°C by day and 23°C at night in December, with the sea at 25°C and about 132 mm of rain in the month. That is about 2°C warmer than November.

Day

29°C

Night

23°C

Sea

25°C

Rain

132 mm

Flight from London

11½h

What December feels like

December is hot in Rio de Janeiro: proper beach weather.

The sea is warm at 25°C: comfortable for long swims.

Expect some rainy spells: about 132 mm falls in the month.

That is 20°C warmer than an average December day in London.

Of the 56 sun destinations we track, Rio de Janeiro is the #14 warmest in December.

Want it warmer in December?

These are hotter than Rio de Janeiro this month for at most an hour and a half more flying:

Rio de Janeiro weather by month

December is highlighted. Compare with November and January, or see the full year in Rio de Janeiro.

MonthDayNightSeaRain
January30°C24°C26°C154 mm
February30°C24°C28°C126 mm
March29°C24°C26°C133 mm
April27°C22°C25°C86 mm
May26°C20°C24°C59 mm
June25°C19°C23°C38 mm
July25°C18°C22°C40 mm
August25°C18°C22°C63 mm
September26°C20°C23°C59 mm
October27°C21°C22°C89 mm
November27°C21°C23°C130 mm
December29°C23°C25°C132 mm

Rio de Janeiro in December: quick answers

Is Rio de Janeiro hot in December?

December is hot in Rio de Janeiro: proper beach weather. Average highs are 29°C and lows 23°C.

Can you swim in Rio de Janeiro in December?

The sea is warm at 25°C: comfortable for long swims.

Does it rain in Rio de Janeiro in December?

Expect some rainy spells: about 132 mm falls in the month.

What is the warmest month in Rio de Janeiro?

February, at an average high of 30°C. The coolest is July at 25°C.

How long is the flight to Rio de Janeiro from the UK?

About 11½h direct from London, estimated from the 9,260 km distance. Check your airline for exact times.

Still choosing? See where is hot in December for every destination ranked by temperature, sea and flight time.

How we measured this

Averages of every day in December from 2016 to 2025, from the Open-Meteo historical weather archive (ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis). Sea temperature is the 2023 to 2025 average from the Open-Meteo marine archive. Rain is the average monthly total. Reanalysis describes an area about 25 km across, so sheltered resorts can run a degree or two warmer. Flight time is a distance-based estimate from London Heathrow.

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