September is one of the cooler months of the year in Wanaka, with average highs near 7.8°C and lows around -0.2°C (mean 3.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 133 mm of rainfall and 87% relative humidity across the period.
September is one of the cooler months of the year in Wanaka. Across 45 years of records, the warmest September in Wanaka was 1989 — when the month averaged 5.9°C — while the coldest was 1994 at 1.5°C. Typical September days reach 7.8°C with nights near -0.2°C. The long-term September temperature trend is broadly flat.
September is about average for rainfall in Wanaka, averaging 133 mm of rainfall. The wettest September on record was 1983 with 291 mm, while the driest was 1997 at 29 mm.
Relative humidity in Wanaka during September averages 87%. The most humid September was 1995 at 90%, and the least humid were 1989, 2014 and 2019 at 84%.
September receives about 3.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Wanaka. The sunniest Septembers were 1989, 2006 and 2014 at 4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1995, 2008 and 2012 at 3.
Average wind speed in Wanaka during September is 2.6 m/s. The windiest September was 2025 at 3.7 m/s, while the calmest were 1989, 1992 and 1997 at 1.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 4.0°C | 3.2°C | 4.1°C | 4.0°C | 3.7°C | -0.3°C |
| Avg High | 8.0°C | 7.1°C | 8.1°C | 8.2°C | 7.7°C | -0.3°C |
| Avg Low | 0.0°C | -0.7°C | 0.0°C | -0.1°C | -0.2°C | -0.2°C |
| Avg Rain | 139 mm | 138 mm | 128 mm | 106 mm | 172 mm | +33 mm |
September temperatures in Wanaka have stayed relatively stable across the record.
September has ranged from a record low of -5.4°C (1995) to a record high of 15.9°C (2021).
Rainfall in September is about average for rainfall, averaging 133 mm, with a wettest year of 291 mm.
A quieter season to visit Wanaka
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of February and January tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Wanaka. That said, September — with days averaging 7.8°C and nights around -0.2°C (mean 3.8°C) and higher rainfall (133 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 | 6.6°C | 2.8°C | -1.0°C | 10.8°C | -4.4°C | 203 mm | 87% | 3.7 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2024 | 7.1°C | 3.1°C | -0.8°C | 11.8°C | -4.6°C | 203 mm | 88% | 3.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2023 | 8.8°C | 4.7°C | 0.5°C | 12.9°C | -3.8°C | 197 mm | 87% | 3.2 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2022 | 8.6°C | 4.7°C | 0.7°C | 13.9°C | -4.3°C | 102 mm | 86% | 1.9 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2021 | 7.5°C | 3.6°C | -0.3°C | 15.9°C | -3.7°C | 130 mm | 86% | 3.2 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2020 | 7.7°C | 3.5°C | -0.6°C | 12.9°C | -4.6°C | 195 mm | 86% | 3.3 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2019 | 8.6°C | 4.0°C | -0.5°C | 13.2°C | -4.2°C | 52 mm | 84% | 2.4 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2018 | 8.9°C | 4.5°C | 0.2°C | 14.1°C | -3.7°C | 77 mm | 85% | 2.3 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2017 | 7.8°C | 4.0°C | 0.2°C | 12.8°C | -4.1°C | 106 mm | 89% | 2.6 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2016 | 10.0°C | 5.7°C | 1.4°C | 13.1°C | -3.3°C | 75 mm | 86% | 2 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2015 | 7.4°C | 3.2°C | -1.0°C | 12.0°C | -4.9°C | 89 mm | 86% | 2.1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2014 | 9.2°C | 4.6°C | 0.0°C | 14.7°C | -3.5°C | 70 mm | 84% | 2.1 m/s | 4 |
| 2013 | 8.2°C | 4.2°C | 0.2°C | 12.4°C | -4.6°C | 145 mm | 86% | 2.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2012 | 8.0°C | 4.3°C | 0.6°C | 13.0°C | -4.0°C | 159 mm | 86% | 2.9 m/s | 3 |
| 2011 | 7.1°C | 2.9°C | -1.4°C | 11.5°C | -4.3°C | 98 mm | 87% | 2.4 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2010 | 6.4°C | 2.9°C | -0.6°C | 10.8°C | -5.0°C | 185 mm | 88% | 3.5 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2009 | 7.7°C | 3.7°C | -0.4°C | 12.4°C | -3.6°C | 81 mm | 87% | 2.6 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2008 | 8.2°C | 4.4°C | 0.7°C | 12.2°C | -3.1°C | 202 mm | 87% | 3.1 m/s | 3 |
| 2007 | 8.6°C | 4.4°C | 0.2°C | 13.4°C | -4.4°C | 135 mm | 86% | 2.5 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2006 | 8.8°C | 4.5°C | 0.2°C | 11.4°C | -3.6°C | 105 mm | 86% | 3.2 m/s | 4 |
| 2005 | 9.2°C | 5.2°C | 1.2°C | 13.3°C | -3.8°C | 137 mm | 85% | 2.4 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2004 | 6.5°C | 2.7°C | -1.1°C | 12.3°C | -4.2°C | 130 mm | 87% | 3 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2003 | 6.2°C | 2.5°C | -1.1°C | 9.7°C | -3.4°C | 170 mm | 89% | 3 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2002 | 7.5°C | 3.5°C | -0.5°C | 11.6°C | -4.3°C | 158 mm | 88% | 3.6 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2001 | 10.1°C | 5.6°C | 1.1°C | 13.5°C | -3.1°C | 56 mm | 85% | 2.3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2000 | 7.8°C | 4.0°C | 0.2°C | 12.5°C | -4.3°C | 102 mm | 87% | 2.9 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1999 | 8.7°C | 4.6°C | 0.6°C | 14.1°C | -3.3°C | 75 mm | 88% | 2.5 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1998 | 7.7°C | 3.7°C | -0.4°C | 11.8°C | -3.8°C | 128 mm | 86% | 3 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1997 | 7.2°C | 2.9°C | -1.4°C | 10.7°C | -5.2°C | 29 mm | 85% | 1.7 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1996 | 8.4°C | 4.4°C | 0.4°C | 14.8°C | -2.7°C | 152 mm | 88% | 2.5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1995 | 6.2°C | 2.8°C | -0.7°C | 10.3°C | -5.4°C | 289 mm | 90% | 2.9 m/s | 3 |
| 1994 ❄️ | 5.0°C | 1.5°C | -2.1°C | 9.3°C | -5.0°C | 183 mm | 88% | 2.4 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1993 | 6.8°C | 2.8°C | -1.2°C | 14.4°C | -3.9°C | 112 mm | 88% | 2.7 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1992 | 5.9°C | 2.1°C | -1.8°C | 9.6°C | -4.5°C | 95 mm | 87% | 1.7 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1991 | 7.3°C | 3.8°C | 0.2°C | 10.0°C | -2.8°C | 217 mm | 89% | 2.2 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1990 | 7.6°C | 3.5°C | -0.6°C | 12.2°C | -3.4°C | 96 mm | 85% | 2.1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1989 🔥 | 10.0°C | 5.9°C | 1.8°C | 14.4°C | -4.9°C | 58 mm | 84% | 1.7 m/s | 4 |
| 1988 | 8.9°C | 5.0°C | 1.1°C | 12.8°C | -3.6°C | 130 mm | 88% | 2.8 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1987 | 7.6°C | 3.4°C | -0.7°C | 13.8°C | -3.4°C | 189 mm | 87% | 2.7 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1986 | 7.1°C | 2.9°C | -1.3°C | 12.3°C | -3.8°C | 111 mm | 88% | 2.4 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1985 | 8.5°C | 4.5°C | 0.5°C | 13.0°C | -3.9°C | 87 mm | 85% | 2.6 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1984 | 8.8°C | 4.5°C | 0.2°C | 12.1°C | -3.7°C | 128 mm | 85% | 2 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1983 🌧️ | 6.6°C | 3.2°C | -0.2°C | 10.5°C | -4.0°C | 291 mm | 89% | 3.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 7.8°C | 3.8°C | -0.1°C | 12.7°C | -3.8°C | 158 mm | 87% | 2.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 6.6°C | 2.5°C | -1.5°C | 9.7°C | -3.5°C | 101 mm | 87% | 3.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded September data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in September is around 7.8°C with lows near -0.2°C (mean 3.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
September averages 133 mm of rainfall in Wanaka, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 291 mm in 1983.
The hottest September reached 15.9°C in 2021. The coldest dipped to -5.4°C in 1995.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average September temperatures have risen by about 0.1°C. Daytime highs moved from 7.7°C to 7.7°C and overnight lows from -0.2°C to -0.2°C over the same span.
September is one of the cooler months of the year in Wanaka and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 7.8°C daytime highs and -0.2°C at night.
Not quite — September is the 4th coolest month in Wanaka, averaging 3.8°C.
For September in Wanaka, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 7.8°C and lows of -0.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in September averages 87% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in September is 2.6 m/s. The windiest September on record averaged 3.7 m/s (2025).
The wettest September on record was 1983 with 291 mm. On average, September sees 133 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 Wanaka 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.
