September is one of the cooler months of the year in Palmerston North, with average highs near 13.2°C and lows around 6.1°C (mean 9.6°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 83 mm of rainfall and 88% relative humidity across the period.
September is one of the cooler months of the year in Palmerston North. Across 45 years of records, the warmest September in Palmerston North was 2005 — when the month averaged 11°C — while the coldest was 1992 at 7.9°C. Typical September days reach 13.2°C with nights near 6.1°C. The long-term September temperature trend is broadly flat.
September is about average for rainfall in Palmerston North, averaging 83 mm of rainfall. The wettest September on record was 2010 with 187 mm, while the driest was 2001 at 14 mm.
Relative humidity in Palmerston North during September averages 88%. The most humid Septembers were 1988 and 2016 at 90%, and the least humid was 2001 at 84%.
September receives about 3.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Palmerston North. The sunniest September was 1985 at 4.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1988 and 2010 at 3.2.
Average wind speed in Palmerston North during September is 4 m/s. The windiest September was 2010 at 5.5 m/s, while the calmest was 1989 at 3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 9.8°C | 9.3°C | 9.8°C | 9.7°C | 9.9°C | +0.1°C |
| Avg High | 13.5°C | 12.8°C | 13.6°C | 13.0°C | 13.2°C | -0.3°C |
| Avg Low | 6.1°C | 5.7°C | 6.1°C | 6.4°C | 6.5°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 78 mm | 75 mm | 65 mm | 92 mm | 120 mm | +43 mm |
September temperatures in Palmerston North have risen by about 0.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
September has ranged from a record low of -0.6°C (1989) to a record high of 19.8°C (1999).
Rainfall in September is about average for rainfall, averaging 83 mm, with a wettest year of 187 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0°C per decade while lows rose 0.2°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Palmerston North
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of February and January tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Palmerston North. That said, September — with days averaging 13.2°C and nights around 6.1°C (mean 9.6°C) and higher rainfall (83 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 | 13.3°C | 9.8°C | 6.3°C | 17.0°C | 0.2°C | 75 mm | 87% | 4.9 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2024 | 13.3°C | 10.1°C | 6.8°C | 17.6°C | 0.7°C | 138 mm | 88% | 4.4 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2023 | 14.1°C | 10.6°C | 7.1°C | 17.5°C | 2.0°C | 115 mm | 89% | 4.5 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2022 | 13.0°C | 9.7°C | 6.4°C | 16.4°C | 1.1°C | 136 mm | 90% | 3.6 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2021 | 12.7°C | 9.3°C | 5.8°C | 16.6°C | 1.6°C | 137 mm | 88% | 4.4 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2020 | 12.9°C | 9.8°C | 6.6°C | 16.4°C | 1.2°C | 122 mm | 86% | 5.2 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2019 | 13.0°C | 9.7°C | 6.3°C | 17.9°C | 2.4°C | 54 mm | 87% | 4.4 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2018 | 12.9°C | 9.7°C | 6.4°C | 18.1°C | 3.0°C | 66 mm | 89% | 3.9 m/s | 4 |
| 2017 | 13.1°C | 10.2°C | 7.3°C | 17.0°C | 3.3°C | 116 mm | 89% | 4.1 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2016 | 13.1°C | 10.2°C | 7.3°C | 16.9°C | 3.4°C | 86 mm | 90% | 4 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2015 | 11.8°C | 8.6°C | 5.5°C | 15.5°C | 1.1°C | 102 mm | 88% | 4 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2014 | 13.6°C | 10.1°C | 6.6°C | 17.7°C | 1.1°C | 92 mm | 88% | 3.9 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2013 | 13.4°C | 10.2°C | 7.0°C | 17.3°C | 0.6°C | 113 mm | 87% | 4.7 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2012 | 13.3°C | 9.4°C | 5.5°C | 17.8°C | 0.3°C | 60 mm | 86% | 4 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2011 | 12.7°C | 8.8°C | 5.0°C | 16.2°C | 2.0°C | 47 mm | 86% | 3.4 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2010 🌧️ | 12.8°C | 10.1°C | 7.4°C | 17.2°C | 3.0°C | 187 mm | 88% | 5.5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2009 | 13.2°C | 9.1°C | 5.1°C | 16.1°C | -0.3°C | 79 mm | 87% | 3.4 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2008 | 13.5°C | 9.8°C | 6.0°C | 16.8°C | 0.8°C | 40 mm | 89% | 3.7 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2007 | 13.5°C | 9.5°C | 5.5°C | 17.4°C | 0.1°C | 49 mm | 87% | 3.5 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2006 | 13.5°C | 10.4°C | 7.4°C | 16.6°C | 1.8°C | 36 mm | 89% | 4.2 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2005 🔥 | 15.1°C | 11.0°C | 6.9°C | 19.3°C | 2.1°C | 71 mm | 86% | 3.5 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2004 | 12.3°C | 8.4°C | 4.4°C | 15.1°C | -0.1°C | 95 mm | 87% | 4.1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2003 | 13.5°C | 10.1°C | 6.7°C | 17.8°C | 2.5°C | 144 mm | 88% | 4.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2002 | 13.7°C | 10.2°C | 6.7°C | 16.1°C | 1.2°C | 62 mm | 86% | 5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2001 | 14.4°C | 10.3°C | 6.2°C | 16.7°C | 2.4°C | 14 mm | 84% | 3.4 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2000 | 13.1°C | 9.6°C | 6.1°C | 16.7°C | 1.9°C | 59 mm | 86% | 4.1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1999 | 14.2°C | 10.1°C | 5.9°C | 19.8°C | 0.5°C | 34 mm | 86% | 3.3 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1998 | 14.2°C | 10.3°C | 6.3°C | 18.4°C | 2.2°C | 47 mm | 86% | 3.9 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1997 | 12.4°C | 8.7°C | 4.9°C | 16.7°C | 0.1°C | 59 mm | 86% | 3.2 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1996 | 14.3°C | 10.6°C | 6.9°C | 19.4°C | 0.6°C | 87 mm | 89% | 3.8 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1995 | 13.1°C | 9.7°C | 6.4°C | 17.5°C | 0.8°C | 101 mm | 90% | 3.8 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1994 | 11.8°C | 8.5°C | 5.1°C | 15.3°C | 1.4°C | 132 mm | 88% | 3.7 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1993 | 11.4°C | 8.1°C | 4.7°C | 15.9°C | 0.8°C | 76 mm | 86% | 4 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1992 ❄️ | 11.0°C | 7.9°C | 4.9°C | 13.4°C | 0.8°C | 104 mm | 90% | 3.2 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1991 | 13.2°C | 9.9°C | 6.6°C | 17.4°C | 3.9°C | 77 mm | 88% | 3.6 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1990 | 12.4°C | 8.8°C | 5.2°C | 15.0°C | 0.4°C | 37 mm | 88% | 3.3 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1989 | 14.5°C | 10.4°C | 6.3°C | 19.2°C | -0.6°C | 34 mm | 86% | 3 m/s | 4 |
| 1988 | 14.0°C | 10.8°C | 7.7°C | 19.5°C | 0.5°C | 119 mm | 90% | 4.5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1987 | 13.5°C | 9.7°C | 5.8°C | 16.8°C | 2.5°C | 79 mm | 86% | 4 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1986 | 12.4°C | 9.2°C | 6.0°C | 16.7°C | 0.1°C | 80 mm | 89% | 3.7 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1985 | 14.1°C | 9.7°C | 5.2°C | 18.7°C | 1.1°C | 64 mm | 85% | 3.6 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1984 | 13.1°C | 9.5°C | 5.9°C | 16.3°C | 2.3°C | 65 mm | 88% | 3.6 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1983 | 13.5°C | 10.3°C | 7.1°C | 17.1°C | 1.5°C | 105 mm | 88% | 4.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 13.3°C | 9.1°C | 4.9°C | 16.4°C | 0.3°C | 65 mm | 87% | 3.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 12.7°C | 9.4°C | 6.2°C | 15.0°C | 1.8°C | 88 mm | 88% | 5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded September data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in September is around 13.2°C with lows near 6.1°C (mean 9.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
September averages 83 mm of rainfall in Palmerston North, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 187 mm in 2010.
The hottest September reached 19.8°C in 1999. The coldest dipped to -0.6°C in 1989.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average September temperatures have risen by about 0.3°C. Daytime highs moved from 13.3°C to 13.3°C and overnight lows from 5.9°C to 6.5°C over the same span.
September is one of the cooler months of the year in Palmerston North and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 13.2°C daytime highs and 6.1°C at night.
Not quite — September is the 4th coolest month in Palmerston North, averaging 9.6°C.
For September in Palmerston North, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 13.2°C and lows of 6.1°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in September averages 88% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in September is 4 m/s. The windiest September on record averaged 5.5 m/s (2010).
The wettest September on record was 2010 with 187 mm. On average, September sees 83 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 Palmerston North 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.
