September is one of the cooler months of the year in Kaikoura, with average highs near 12°C and lows around 7.4°C (mean 9.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 61 mm of rainfall and 79% relative humidity across the period.
September is one of the cooler months of the year in Kaikoura. Across 45 years of records, the warmest September in Kaikoura was 1988 — when the month averaged 11.2°C — while the coldest was 1992 at 7.6°C. Typical September days reach 12°C with nights near 7.4°C. The long-term September temperature trend is broadly flat.
September is about average for rainfall in Kaikoura, averaging 61 mm of rainfall. The wettest September on record was 1995 with 174 mm, while the driest was 2006 at 19 mm.
Relative humidity in Kaikoura during September averages 79%. The most humid September was 2016 at 84%, and the least humid was 2009 at 73%.
September receives about 3.7 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Kaikoura. The sunniest September was 1985 at 4.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1995 and 2016 at 3.3.
Average wind speed in Kaikoura during September is 3.2 m/s. The windiest September was 2003 at 4.1 m/s, while the calmest was 1988 at 2.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 9.7°C | 9.2°C | 10.1°C | 9.6°C | 10.0°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg High | 12.0°C | 11.4°C | 12.5°C | 11.8°C | 12.4°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg Low | 7.5°C | 7.0°C | 7.6°C | 7.4°C | 7.6°C | +0.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 52 mm | 81 mm | 49 mm | 61 mm | 61 mm | +9 mm |
September temperatures in Kaikoura have risen by about 0.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
September has ranged from a record low of 3°C (1994) to a record high of 19.4°C (2009).
Rainfall in September is about average for rainfall, averaging 61 mm, with a wettest year of 174 mm.
A quieter season to visit Kaikoura
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of February and January tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Kaikoura. That said, September — with days averaging 12°C and nights around 7.4°C (mean 9.7°C) and moderate rainfall (61 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12.7°C | 10.1°C | 7.4°C | 16.4°C | 5.2°C | 34 mm | 75% | 3.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2024 | 12.5°C | 10.0°C | 7.5°C | 16.5°C | 3.0°C | 59 mm | 77% | 2.9 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2023 | 12.8°C | 10.7°C | 8.5°C | 18.5°C | 5.4°C | 78 mm | 81% | 3.8 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2022 | 11.5°C | 9.6°C | 7.7°C | 15.7°C | 4.1°C | 77 mm | 82% | 3.1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2021 | 11.8°C | 9.4°C | 7.1°C | 15.9°C | 4.5°C | 57 mm | 78% | 3.3 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2020 | 12.9°C | 10.2°C | 7.4°C | 16.5°C | 3.9°C | 63 mm | 75% | 3.4 m/s | 4 |
| 2019 | 11.7°C | 9.4°C | 7.2°C | 16.7°C | 3.6°C | 66 mm | 80% | 3.2 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2018 | 11.9°C | 9.7°C | 7.5°C | 16.9°C | 4.9°C | 31 mm | 80% | 3.1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2017 | 12.1°C | 10.0°C | 7.9°C | 17.3°C | 5.0°C | 89 mm | 83% | 3.5 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2016 | 11.8°C | 10.0°C | 8.2°C | 16.7°C | 4.1°C | 56 mm | 84% | 3.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2015 | 10.3°C | 8.4°C | 6.4°C | 15.9°C | 3.9°C | 110 mm | 81% | 3.6 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2014 | 12.3°C | 10.0°C | 7.6°C | 16.6°C | 5.1°C | 42 mm | 80% | 3.1 m/s | 4 |
| 2013 | 12.2°C | 10.0°C | 7.8°C | 16.1°C | 4.3°C | 68 mm | 79% | 3.3 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2012 | 12.1°C | 9.8°C | 7.5°C | 17.3°C | 3.9°C | 44 mm | 78% | 3.5 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2011 | 11.7°C | 9.2°C | 6.8°C | 15.0°C | 3.3°C | 35 mm | 77% | 2.9 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2010 | 12.0°C | 9.7°C | 7.5°C | 16.2°C | 3.5°C | 68 mm | 78% | 3.9 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2009 | 12.2°C | 9.8°C | 7.4°C | 19.4°C | 4.5°C | 46 mm | 73% | 3 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2008 | 12.6°C | 10.0°C | 7.5°C | 17.2°C | 4.6°C | 47 mm | 80% | 3 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2007 | 12.2°C | 9.9°C | 7.5°C | 16.4°C | 3.8°C | 25 mm | 78% | 2.9 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2006 | 13.2°C | 10.6°C | 7.9°C | 18.1°C | 5.7°C | 19 mm | 78% | 2.6 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2005 | 12.9°C | 10.5°C | 8.2°C | 17.1°C | 3.9°C | 41 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2004 | 11.8°C | 9.0°C | 6.3°C | 15.7°C | 3.0°C | 74 mm | 77% | 3.4 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2003 | 12.3°C | 10.1°C | 7.8°C | 15.7°C | 4.8°C | 111 mm | 77% | 4.1 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2002 | 13.6°C | 10.8°C | 8.0°C | 17.5°C | 4.3°C | 54 mm | 74% | 3.4 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2001 | 12.6°C | 10.2°C | 7.8°C | 16.9°C | 5.8°C | 27 mm | 79% | 2.6 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2000 | 11.6°C | 9.6°C | 7.6°C | 17.5°C | 4.1°C | 44 mm | 80% | 3.3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1999 | 12.9°C | 10.4°C | 7.8°C | 18.3°C | 4.5°C | 32 mm | 78% | 2.9 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1998 | 13.1°C | 10.2°C | 7.4°C | 18.7°C | 4.0°C | 46 mm | 76% | 3 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1997 | 10.1°C | 8.4°C | 6.8°C | 15.8°C | 3.5°C | 35 mm | 81% | 3.4 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1996 | 13.0°C | 10.8°C | 8.5°C | 16.0°C | 5.5°C | 94 mm | 80% | 3 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1995 🌧️ | 11.7°C | 9.4°C | 7.0°C | 14.9°C | 3.5°C | 174 mm | 81% | 2.9 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1994 | 10.5°C | 8.4°C | 6.2°C | 14.3°C | 3.0°C | 117 mm | 79% | 3.7 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1993 | 10.1°C | 8.0°C | 6.0°C | 13.4°C | 3.7°C | 72 mm | 80% | 3.9 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1992 ❄️ | 9.3°C | 7.6°C | 5.8°C | 13.1°C | 3.8°C | 95 mm | 84% | 3.5 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1991 | 12.0°C | 9.9°C | 7.8°C | 14.9°C | 5.5°C | 71 mm | 81% | 2.6 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1990 | 11.6°C | 9.3°C | 7.1°C | 15.5°C | 4.3°C | 72 mm | 80% | 3.2 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1989 | 11.9°C | 10.1°C | 8.4°C | 16.7°C | 4.5°C | 59 mm | 83% | 2.8 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1988 🔥 | 13.8°C | 11.2°C | 8.6°C | 18.4°C | 4.9°C | 37 mm | 77% | 2.5 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1987 | 12.5°C | 10.1°C | 7.7°C | 18.0°C | 5.4°C | 35 mm | 78% | 3.6 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1986 | 11.1°C | 8.9°C | 6.7°C | 16.7°C | 3.7°C | 80 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1985 | 11.9°C | 9.7°C | 7.5°C | 15.7°C | 4.4°C | 42 mm | 80% | 3.4 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1984 | 11.3°C | 9.3°C | 7.4°C | 15.4°C | 5.3°C | 33 mm | 83% | 3.1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1983 | 11.8°C | 9.6°C | 7.3°C | 17.6°C | 5.1°C | 79 mm | 79% | 3.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 11.6°C | 9.3°C | 7.0°C | 16.8°C | 4.8°C | 58 mm | 79% | 2.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 12.2°C | 9.5°C | 6.9°C | 15.8°C | 4.1°C | 46 mm | 76% | 3.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded September data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in September is around 12°C with lows near 7.4°C (mean 9.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
September averages 61 mm of rainfall in Kaikoura, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 174 mm in 1995.
The hottest September reached 19.4°C in 2009. The coldest dipped to 3°C in 1994.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average September temperatures have risen by about 0.5°C. Daytime highs moved from 11.8°C to 12.3°C and overnight lows from 7.2°C to 7.6°C over the same span.
September is one of the cooler months of the year in Kaikoura and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 12°C daytime highs and 7.4°C at night.
Not quite — September is the 4th coolest month in Kaikoura, averaging 9.7°C.
For September in Kaikoura, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 12°C and lows of 7.4°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in September averages 79% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in September is 3.2 m/s. The windiest September on record averaged 4.1 m/s (2003).
The wettest September on record was 1995 with 174 mm. On average, September sees 61 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 Kaikoura 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.
