How the Summer Olympics Can Be Held in Rio de Janeiro During Winter

Jonathan Belles
Published: August 4,2016
The Summer Olympics are here, and with so many of the Games played outdoors, the weather conditions that athletes and spectators will face this winter will play a factor in the events. That's right – it's winter in much of Brazil, although Rio de Janeiro is close enough to the equator that it will not be cold for the Summer Games.
Temperatures in Brazil are generally mild in August and September, but rainfall begins to become more common in September. The Olympic Games take place Aug. 5-21, while the Paralympic Games will be played Sept. 7-18, 2016.
Here's what conditions are like right now in Brazil:

Current Conditions and Infrared Satellite

And here's the forecast for Brazil:

Five day forecast for Brazil

Climatology of Rio de Janeiro

Because Brazil, including Rio de Janeiro, is largely south of the equator, this year's Summer Games will actually be held in the winter.
This is possible because Rio de Janeiro isn't too far from the equator, which means its winter temperatures do not swing as much as you might think. Temperatures swing about 10 degrees Fahrenheit over the course of an entire year.

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Kathryn Prociv @KathrynProciv

Summer in Rio=winter in Miami. Fun perspective via @ClimateCentral for the type of weather our athletes can expect!

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Rio de Janeiro and Miami are a similar distance from the equator in their respective hemispheres, and their temperature ranges and rainfall are similar. With Rio de Janeiro being north of the Tropic of Capricorn, it is technically in the tropics. Generally, temperatures remain relatively constant in the tropics, while wintertime cold air stays farther from the equator.

Here are the average temperatures throughout the year at Copacabana, one of the sites for the Games. For Fahrenheit, see the caption below the graph.

Average annual temperature variation (low temperatures - blue, average temperatures - green and high temperatures - red) for Fort Copacabana, one of the sites of the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. Celsius to Fahrenheit guide: 15 degrees C = 59 degrees F; 20 degrees C = 68 degrees F; 25 degrees C = 77 degrees F; 30 degrees C = 86 degrees F
(Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (INMET))

Moisture swings across Brazil are much more pronounced.
August is typically the driest month of the year, and monthly rainfall doubles from August to September. Southern Brazil will be coming out of its dry season by the time that the Paralympic Games begin in September.
Most of the Olympic and Paralympic sites are located within an area that is typically more rainy compared to the rest of southeast Brazil, due to the proximity to water.
Sea breezes are common near the coast and could quickly change wind direction at some of the coastal sites during the afternoon. Winter-type cold fronts may also pass through the area in August, bringing gusty winds and rain.

Climatological information from INMET’s Rio de Janeiro (Saúde)

station, from 2002 to 2013 

Average Values
Meteorological Parameter	August	September
Average High (°F)	83.7	83.3
Average Low (°F)	67.3	68.0
Average Dew Point (°F)	64.2	64.6
Average Rainfall (in)	1.15	2.69
Average Number of Days With Rain	6	9
Average Wind Speed (mph)	6.9	7.6
Average Wind Direction	NNE	NNE
Extreme Values
Record High (°F)	102.0 (2005)	105.1 (2012)
Record Low (°F)	55.0 (2009)	55.0 (2006)
Record Maximum Monthly Rainfall (in)	5.57 (2003)	5.10 (2005)

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