São Paulo, one of the largest cities in the world, gets about 1,450 mm (roughly 57 inches) of rain a year, with a clear wet season from December to March bringing intense afternoon and evening thunderstorms. The city’s combination of dense high-rise development, extensive paved surfaces, and rivers that were long ago channeled into concrete canals means that heavy rain has very little natural place to go, and flash flooding on major avenues is a routine occurrence during the wet season rather than a rare event. Storms here can form quickly over the metropolitan area and drop a significant amount of rain in under an hour, catching commuters off guard. Because local flooding in São Paulo is driven almost entirely by short bursts of intense rainfall rather than prolonged storms, radar imagery is one of the most practical tools residents use to decide whether to delay a trip across the city. Regional radar coverage is operated through Brazil’s meteorological and hydrological monitoring networks.
Learn more: How Does Rain Radar Work? · Open the full Rain Map
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it raining in São Paulo right now?
The live radar map above shows precipitation over São Paulo in real time. Blue shades indicate light rain, while yellow, orange, and red mark heavier downpours. If no colored echoes appear over São Paulo, no significant rain is currently being detected.
How often does the São Paulo rain radar update?
The radar refreshes continuously, typically every few minutes, so the map reflects current conditions rather than an hours-old forecast. Press play to animate the most recent frames.
Can I see if a storm is heading toward São Paulo?
Yes. Press play on the radar to animate the last few hours of rainfall and watch which way rain cells over Brazil are moving – the clearest way to judge whether a shower will reach São Paulo or pass by.
Is this São Paulo rain radar free to use?
Yes, completely free – no account, app download, or sign-up required. It works in any browser on desktop and mobile.