[edit]
Location on a map of municipalities of Paraná
Curitiba, the capital of the Paraná state of southern Brazil, is located near the Atlantic margin of the Brazilian Highlands and the headwaters of the Iguaçu River. It is around 3,050 feet (930 meters) above sea level.
The most important rivers that form six hydrographic basins within the municipal territory are, in addition to the Iguaçu River, the Atuba, Belém, Barigui, Passaúna, and the Padilhas stream, all with similar drainage characteristics.
The most extensive hydrographic basin in Curitiba is that of the Barigui River, which crosses the municipality from north to south and covers 139.9 km² of the municipality's area. To the south, there is the least extensive hydrographic basin in Curitiba, that of the Padilhas stream, with 33.6 km². As the relief of Curitiba is predominantly higher in the north of the municipality, six hydrographic basins, in their entirety, descend towards the south of the municipality, flowing into the Iguaçu River, the most important river in Curitiba, which, in turn, flows into the Paraná River, in the far west of the state.
Due to certain peculiarities, rainfall habitually causes significant flooding in the rivers of Curitiba, resulting in regular floods, which constantly worries the population and the public administration. Nowadays, after many studies regarding local waterways, almost all of the rivers are being channeled.
Climate[edit]
Fog in the Botanical Garden
Curitiba features a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb, Trewartha: Cfbl). Its location on a plateau and the flat terrain with flooded areas contributes to its somewhat mild and damp winters, with an average minimum temperature of 9 °C (48 °F) in July. Nighttime temperatures can drop below 0 °C (32 °F) on the coldest days. Daytime temperatures in winter are usually pleasant, around 19 °C (66 °F). However, during cold snaps, daytime temperatures might not rise above 10 °C (50 °F), and on rare occasions, above 5 °C (41 °F).
Snowfall was experienced in 1889, 1892, 1912, 1928 (snowstorm, two days), 1942, 1955, 1957, 1962, 1975, 1988, 2013 and 2020. Huge accumulation, however, is rarer.
During summertime, the average temperature is around 25 °C (77 °F) at daytime, but it can get above 30 °C (86 °F) on the hottest days. However, temperatures above 21 °C (70 °F) at night are rare.
The terrain's flatness hinders water drainage after rain, therefore providing water vapor for the atmosphere. Cold fronts come year round, often from Antarctica and Argentina, bringing extratropical cyclones, and cold winds and frost in the winter. They can move very quickly, with no more than one day between the start of the southern winds and the start of rain. Curitiba's weather is also influenced by the dry air masses that dominate Brazil's midwest most of the year, bringing hot and dry weather, sometimes even in winter.
Climate data for Curitiba (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1885–present)
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
Record high °C (°F)
35.4(95.7)
34.8(94.6)
33.9(93.0)
32.6(90.7)
30.5(86.9)
28.2(82.8)
28.6(83.5)
31.6(88.9)
34.2(93.6)
35.5(95.9)
35.2(95.4)
35.0(95.0)
35.5(95.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
27.1(80.8)
27.2(81.0)
26.1(79.0)
24.4(75.9)
21.1(70.0)
20.3(68.5)
20.1(68.2)
21.9(71.4)
22.3(72.1)
23.7(74.7)
25.0(77.0)
26.7(80.1)
23.8(74.8)
Daily mean °C (°F)
21.3(70.3)
21.4(70.5)
20.3(68.5)
18.5(65.3)
15.5(59.9)
14.3(57.7)
13.8(56.8)
14.9(58.8)
16.0(60.8)
17.7(63.9)
18.9(66.0)
20.7(69.3)
17.8(64.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
17.6(63.7)
17.8(64.0)
16.8(62.2)
14.8(58.6)
11.8(53.2)
10.3(50.5)
9.3(48.7)
10.1(50.2)
11.9(53.4)
13.9(57.0)
15.0(59.0)
16.7(62.1)
13.8(56.8)
Record low °C (°F)
8.2(46.8)
6.8(44.2)
3.9(39.0)
−4.0(24.8)
−2.3(27.9)
−4.4(24.1)
−5.2(22.6)
−5.2(22.6)
−5.4(22.3)
−1.5(29.3)
−0.9(30.4)
3.6(38.5)
−5.4(22.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)
226.3(8.91)
188.7(7.43)
151.3(5.96)
87.9(3.46)
95.6(3.76)
111.6(4.39)
105.8(4.17)
81.5(3.21)
143.3(5.64)
160.7(6.33)
125.6(4.94)
152.4(6.00)
1,630.7(64.2)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm)
15.4
13.2
11.7
7.1
7.7
6.8
6.8
5.7
8.8
11.3
10.3
12.3
117.1
Average relative humidity (%)
80.6
80.6
81.8
81.3
83.2
82.2
80.2
77.1
79.8
81.4
79.1
78.6
80.5
Average dew point °C (°F)
18.2(64.8)
18.3(64.9)
17.5(63.5)
15.7(60.3)
13.1(55.6)
11.9(53.4)
10.9(51.6)
11.5(52.7)
12.9(55.2)
14.8(58.6)
15.6(60.1)
17.2(63.0)
14.8(58.6)
Mean monthly sunshine hours
161.9
150.1
159
161.2
147.1
141.2
165.5
180.4
136.2
135.5
158.9
165.1
1,862.1
Average ultraviolet index
12
12
12
9
6
5
5
7
9
11
12
12
9
Source 1: Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia
Source 2: Meteo Climat (record highs and lows) and Weather Atlas (UV index)
Climate data for Curitiba (Civic Center), elevation: 924 m, 1961–1990 normals
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
25.6(78.1)
25.8(78.4)
24.9(76.8)
22.3(72.1)
21.1(70.0)
18.3(64.9)
19.4(66.9)
20.9(69.6)
21.3(70.3)
22.6(72.7)
24.5(76.1)
25.4(77.7)
22.7(72.8)
Daily mean °C (°F)
19.6(67.3)
19.9(67.8)
19.0(66.2)
16.7(62.1)
14.6(58.3)
12.2(54.0)
12.8(55.0)
14.0(57.2)
15.0(59.0)
16.5(61.7)
18.2(64.8)
19.3(66.7)
16.5(61.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
15.8(60.4)
16.3(61.3)
15.4(59.7)
12.8(55.0)
10.2(50.4)
7.8(46.0)
8.1(46.6)
9.2(48.6)
10.8(51.4)
12.5(54.5)
14.0(57.2)
15.4(59.7)
12.4(54.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches)
165.0(6.50)
142.1(5.59)
126.6(4.98)
90.0(3.54)
99.2(3.91)
98.1(3.86)
89.0(3.50)
74.5(2.93)
115.4(4.54)
134.2(5.28)
123.8(4.87)
150.1(5.91)
1,408(55.41)
Average relative humidity (%)
79.0
80.0
80.0
79.0
82.0
76.0
81.0
79.0
82.0
82.0
80.0
82.0
80.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours
159.8
135.0
142.0
137.2
152.2
129.7
147.6
148.3
122.1
137.2
152.2
150.9
1,714.2
Source: NOAA
Vegetation[edit]
Frost in Curitiba
Botanical gardens greenhouse in Curitiba
Curitiba is located in the area of the Ombrophilous Mixed Forest (also known as Araucaria moist forests), a sub-type of the Atlantic Forest. In Curitiba it is possible to find steppes, forests and other formations. The local vegetation consists of remnants of the Paraná (or Brazilian) pine (Araucaria angustifolia), which resisted the efforts of settlers. The Paraná pines are in private and public areas and are protected from logging. The Municipal Secretariat of the Environment maintains a botanical garden and three greenhouses that produce 150,000 native and exotic seedlings: 16,000 fruit trees, 260,000 flowers, foliage and underbrush specimens and the maintenance of another 350,000 seedlings.
Curitiba's green area itself matches the size of other large Brazilian cities. The vegetation of Curitiba encompasses a large population of purple and yellow ipês (tabebuias), who flower at the end of winter. The yellow ipê is one of the city's most common tree.
Panoramic view of Barigui Park.
Hydrography[edit]
Iguaçu River, running by the south region of the city
The catchment area of Curitiba consists of rivers and streams that cross the city in different directions, grouped in six river basins. The main rivers that form the city's watershed are: Atuba River, Belém River, Barigüi River, Passaúna River, Ribeirão dos Padilhas and the Iguaçu River, all with characteristics of dendritic drainage. Curitiba has been working since the 1970s on alternatives to minimize the negative impacts of urbanization on rivers. An example is the construction of parks along the rivers with artificial lakes, which absorb and retain water for longer periods of time, minimizing floods.
After many studies of local water flows, most rivers were found to be subject to a canalization process. Other alternatives developed to minimize the negative effects of urbanization are the implementation of programs for environmental education, inspection and monitoring, elaboration and application of legislation and infrastructure works.
Topography[edit]
The Mountain Range of the Sea, "Serra do Mar"
The city covers 432.17 km2 (166.86 sq mi) on the First Plateau of Paraná. Curitiba has a topography of smooth, rounded hills, giving it a relatively regular shape. The city has an average altitude of 934.6 m (3,066 ft) above sea level. The highest point is to the north at 1,021 m (3,350 ft), and with lower altitudes at 864 m (2,835 ft) to the south.
Mountain ranges and sets of rocky hills surround parts of the city, including the Serra do Mar, a hill range between the shore of the Atlantic Ocean and the First Plateau in Paraná.
