São Paulo sits on a plateau at 760 meters elevation, giving it a subtropical highland climate with four distinct seasons and relatively mild temperatures year-round.
Rain falls throughout the year but peaks dramatically in summer, when afternoon thunderstorms arrive with theatrical predictability and require waterproof strategies.
Temperatures range from 10°C to 28°C, rarely reaching extremes but capable of surprising swings within a single day as elevation and urban density play tug-of-war.
Humidity hovers high, particularly in summer, making the air feel heavier than the thermometer suggests and turning any exertion into a sweaty affair.
Layering is the local survival skill—mornings start cool, afternoons warm up fast, and evenings can turn brisk enough to make you question your outfit choices.