September is one of the cooler months of the year in Cairns, with average highs near 26.2°C and lows around 17.6°C (mean 21.9°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 39 mm of rainfall and 75% relative humidity across the period.
September is one of the cooler months of the year in Cairns. Across 45 years of records, the warmest September in Cairns was 2022 — when the month averaged 24.3°C — while the coldest was 1990 at 19.6°C. Typical September days reach 26.2°C with nights near 17.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
September is one of the drier months in Cairns, averaging 39 mm of rainfall. The wettest September on record was 1998 with 127 mm, while the driest was 1991 at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Cairns during September averages 75%. The most humid September was 2010 at 85%, and the least humid was 1991 at 64%.
September receives about 6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Cairns. The sunniest September was 2019 at 6.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2010 at 5.3.
Average wind speed in Cairns during September is 1.8 m/s. The windiest Septembers were 2020, 2021 and 2023, among others at 2.2 m/s, while the calmest was 1984 at 1.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 21.5°C | 21.4°C | 21.8°C | 22.2°C | 22.8°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg High | 25.8°C | 25.7°C | 26.2°C | 26.7°C | 27.0°C | +1.2°C |
| Avg Low | 17.3°C | 17.2°C | 17.4°C | 17.7°C | 18.7°C | +1.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 47 mm | 49 mm | 30 mm | 31 mm | 36 mm | -11 mm |
September temperatures in Cairns have risen by about 1.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
September has ranged from a record low of 11.2°C (2006) to a record high of 33.5°C (1996).
Rainfall in September is one of the drier months, averaging 39 mm, with a wettest year of 127 mm.
One of the best times to visit Cairns
September is one of the best times to visit Cairns. Expect days averaging 26.2°C and nights around 17.6°C (mean 21.9°C) — close to Cairns's yearly average — with moderate rainfall (39 mm), so conditions are generally comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor plans.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27.1°C | 22.9°C | 18.7°C | 30.1°C | 16.4°C | 102 mm | 77% | 2 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2024 | 27.4°C | 23.1°C | 18.9°C | 31.4°C | 17.3°C | 15 mm | 74% | 2.1 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2023 | 26.0°C | 22.0°C | 18.0°C | 30.0°C | 16.3°C | 32 mm | 74% | 2.2 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2022 🔥 | 28.7°C | 24.3°C | 19.8°C | 32.2°C | 15.7°C | 16 mm | 74% | 1.7 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2021 | 26.1°C | 22.1°C | 18.1°C | 30.1°C | 14.4°C | 19 mm | 73% | 2.2 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2020 | 26.6°C | 22.6°C | 18.6°C | 30.5°C | 16.3°C | 34 mm | 76% | 2.2 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2019 | 26.4°C | 21.3°C | 16.2°C | 30.4°C | 12.8°C | 2 mm | 65% | 2 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2018 | 27.1°C | 22.4°C | 17.7°C | 30.8°C | 15.1°C | 7 mm | 69% | 2 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2017 | 27.3°C | 22.7°C | 18.1°C | 31.2°C | 15.0°C | 15 mm | 71% | 1.9 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2016 | 28.1°C | 24.0°C | 19.8°C | 32.4°C | 18.3°C | 47 mm | 78% | 1.7 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2015 | 26.7°C | 22.0°C | 17.4°C | 30.8°C | 15.4°C | 15 mm | 71% | 1.8 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2014 | 26.3°C | 21.4°C | 16.6°C | 28.8°C | 12.9°C | 5 mm | 73% | 1.6 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2013 | 26.9°C | 22.2°C | 17.6°C | 30.9°C | 15.8°C | 48 mm | 75% | 1.6 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2012 | 26.4°C | 21.9°C | 17.5°C | 29.9°C | 15.6°C | 19 mm | 75% | 1.6 m/s | 6 |
| 2011 | 25.8°C | 21.1°C | 16.5°C | 33.3°C | 12.8°C | 29 mm | 73% | 1.9 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2010 | 26.2°C | 23.1°C | 20.0°C | 27.5°C | 18.0°C | 122 mm | 85% | 1.7 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2009 | 28.0°C | 23.2°C | 18.3°C | 33.4°C | 16.2°C | 3 mm | 69% | 1.8 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2008 | 26.5°C | 22.4°C | 18.4°C | 30.0°C | 17.3°C | 64 mm | 78% | 1.8 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2007 | 26.1°C | 21.2°C | 16.4°C | 29.7°C | 14.7°C | 13 mm | 74% | 1.6 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2006 | 23.5°C | 19.9°C | 16.3°C | 25.9°C | 11.2°C | 102 mm | 80% | 1.9 m/s | 6 |
| 2005 | 25.0°C | 21.1°C | 17.2°C | 27.7°C | 14.7°C | 9 mm | 79% | 1.6 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2004 | 25.3°C | 21.3°C | 17.3°C | 29.0°C | 15.1°C | 31 mm | 74% | 1.9 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2003 | 26.7°C | 21.9°C | 17.2°C | 33.3°C | 14.7°C | 6 mm | 70% | 1.7 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2002 | 27.2°C | 22.1°C | 17.1°C | 30.9°C | 14.0°C | 20 mm | 73% | 1.6 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2001 | 27.0°C | 22.6°C | 18.3°C | 31.7°C | 16.6°C | 35 mm | 74% | 2 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2000 | 26.8°C | 22.3°C | 17.7°C | 31.7°C | 15.0°C | 13 mm | 73% | 1.8 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1999 | 25.0°C | 21.1°C | 17.2°C | 28.6°C | 15.5°C | 68 mm | 78% | 1.9 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1998 🌧️ | 25.2°C | 22.2°C | 19.3°C | 27.5°C | 17.4°C | 127 mm | 85% | 1.8 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1997 | 25.9°C | 21.6°C | 17.3°C | 29.9°C | 15.5°C | 26 mm | 77% | 1.5 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1996 | 27.1°C | 21.6°C | 16.1°C | 33.5°C | 13.0°C | 8 mm | 69% | 1.6 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1995 | 25.0°C | 21.0°C | 17.1°C | 30.1°C | 15.6°C | 8 mm | 79% | 1.6 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1994 | 24.4°C | 20.1°C | 15.9°C | 31.9°C | 13.8°C | 23 mm | 78% | 1.5 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1993 | 24.5°C | 20.9°C | 17.3°C | 27.9°C | 15.4°C | 95 mm | 80% | 1.8 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1992 | 28.2°C | 23.6°C | 19.1°C | 32.7°C | 16.3°C | 43 mm | 75% | 1.5 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1991 | 27.8°C | 22.3°C | 16.9°C | 31.5°C | 13.7°C | 0 mm | 64% | 1.6 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1990 ❄️ | 23.6°C | 19.6°C | 15.5°C | 26.8°C | 11.9°C | 89 mm | 75% | 2.1 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1989 | 26.7°C | 21.9°C | 17.1°C | 32.6°C | 14.7°C | 13 mm | 71% | 1.6 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1988 | 26.0°C | 21.7°C | 17.5°C | 30.4°C | 12.7°C | 44 mm | 77% | 1.8 m/s | 6 |
| 1987 | 23.7°C | 20.4°C | 17.1°C | 27.2°C | 15.3°C | 73 mm | 82% | 1.9 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1986 | 26.9°C | 22.5°C | 18.2°C | 32.5°C | 15.8°C | 38 mm | 77% | 1.5 m/s | 6 |
| 1985 | 26.6°C | 21.4°C | 16.2°C | 32.6°C | 11.7°C | 25 mm | 70% | 1.7 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1984 | 27.7°C | 22.9°C | 18.0°C | 31.9°C | 15.7°C | 4 mm | 72% | 1.4 m/s | 6 |
| 1983 | 25.9°C | 21.9°C | 18.0°C | 29.8°C | 14.5°C | 83 mm | 80% | 1.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 24.2°C | 20.3°C | 16.3°C | 30.2°C | 13.6°C | 32 mm | 77% | 1.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 24.4°C | 20.8°C | 17.2°C | 29.9°C | 15.1°C | 111 mm | 79% | 2.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded September data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in September is around 26.2°C with lows near 17.6°C (mean 21.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
September averages 39 mm of rainfall in Cairns, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 127 mm in 1998.
The hottest September reached 33.5°C in 1996. The coldest dipped to 11.2°C in 2006.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average September temperatures have risen by about 1.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 25.8°C to 27.1°C and overnight lows from 17.1°C to 18.7°C over the same span.
September is one of the cooler months of the year in Cairns and one of the drier months, so plan for around 26.2°C daytime highs and 17.6°C at night.
Not quite — September is the 5th coolest month in Cairns, averaging 21.9°C.
For September in Cairns, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 26.2°C and lows of 17.6°C.
Relative humidity in September averages 75% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in September is 1.8 m/s. The windiest September on record averaged 2.2 m/s (1981).
The wettest September on record was 1998 with 127 mm. On average, September sees 39 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Cairns behaves each September, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for September specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
