Port Douglas weather in September

In September, Port Douglas sees average daytime highs of 24°C and overnight lows near 20°C, with 28 mm of rain across 7.3 wet days and about 11.9 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 12th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 24°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 47% of the time in September, and the air most often feels humid.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 42 min at the start of September to 12 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, September is Port Douglas's 2nd-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Port Douglas's year-round climate.

Daytime high
24°
9th warmest
Overnight low
20°
4th coldest
Rainfall
28 mm
7.3 wet days
Daylight
11 h 54 min
6:15 AM – 6:10 PM
Cloud cover
43%
2nd clearest
Wind
12 km/h
8th windiest
Solar energy
6.01 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.6
out of 10

Port Douglas is town in the Shire of Douglas, Queensland, Australia.

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in September

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 24°C through the month.

A typical September day in Port Douglas reaches about 24°C in the afternoon and slips back to 20°C overnight — a 4°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 22°C and 25°C. Set against its neighbours, September runs about 1°C warmer than August and about 1°C cooler than October.

15°20°25°30°151015202530
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12320
22320
32320
42320
52320
62320
72320
82320
92320
102320
112320
122420
132420
142420
152420
162420
172420
182420
192420
202420
212420
222421
232421
242421
252421
262421
272421
282421
292421
302421

How September really feels in Port Douglas

Once humidity and wind are folded in, September averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

September sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Port Douglas weather by month

How September compares with the rest of the year at a glance. September is the 9th-warmest and 12th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan28° / 25°33623.312.94.2
Feb28° / 25°33222.512.64.0
Mar27° / 24°3222212.14.6
Apr26° / 23°15817.711.65.5
May24° / 21°7313.611.26.4
Jun23° / 20°5711.7116.6
Jul22° / 19°5210.311.16.8
Aug22° / 19°479.111.47.1
Sep24° / 20°287.311.97.6
Oct25° / 22°5710.112.47.1
Nov27° / 23°9414.412.86.1
Dec28° / 24°20318.8135.2

Cloud cover in September

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 47% of the time in September.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 26% of September, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 26%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17327
27327
37426
47426
57426
67426
77327
87327
97327
107228
117129
127129
137129
147129
157129
167129
177129
187228
197327
207426
217426
227525
237525
247525
257723
267723
277822
287822
297822
307822

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

Port Douglas gets around 28 mm of rain over 7.3 wet days in September, the driest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 25% and peaks near 31% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
131
231
330
429
528
627
727
826
925
1024
1124
1223
1323
1423
1523
1623
1723
1823
1923
2024
2124
2224
2324
2424
2525
2625
2726
2826
2926
3027

Humidity in September

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of September feels humid — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, September lands in the humid band about 46% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 47% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
111049372
22948382
32948393
42947403
52946413
62946413
72946413
82846414
92846404
102847404
112847394
121848394
131748394
141749394
151649385
161650395
171650395
181550395
191550405
200449416
210348426
220347437
230346447
240245458
250243469
2602424710
2701404810
2801394911
2901374912
3001365013

Wind in September

Winds average 12 km/h in September.

Across September, daily wind ranges from about 12 km/h on the calmest days to 12 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202530
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
112light breeze
212light breeze
312light breeze
412light breeze
512light breeze
612light breeze
712light breeze
812light breeze
912light breeze
1012light breeze
1112light breeze
1212light breeze
1312light breeze
1412light breeze
1512light breeze
1612light breeze
1712light breeze
1812light breeze
1912light breeze
2012light breeze
2112light breeze
2212light breeze
2312light breeze
2412light breeze
2512light breeze
2612light breeze
2712light breeze
2812light breeze
2912light breeze
3012light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in September

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 42 min at the start of September to 12 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 24 minutes over September. Sunrise moves from 6:28 AM to 6:04 AM, and sunset from 6:08 PM to 6:11 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.76:286:08
211.76:276:08
311.76:266:08
411.76:256:08
511.76:246:09
611.86:246:09
711.86:236:09
811.86:226:09
911.86:216:09
1011.86:206:09
1111.86:196:09
1211.86:196:09
1311.96:186:09
1411.96:176:10
1511.96:166:10
1611.96:156:10
1711.96:146:10
1811.96:136:10
1912.06:136:10
2012.06:126:10
2112.06:116:10
2212.06:106:10
2312.06:096:10
2412.06:086:11
2512.16:086:11
2612.16:076:11
2712.16:066:11
2812.16:056:11
2912.16:046:11
3012.16:046:11

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 6.01 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.94 kWh/m² to a high of 6.7 kWh/m² in November across the year — September's 6.01 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.4Bright
25.5Bright
35.5Bright
45.6Bright
55.6Bright
65.6Bright
75.7Bright
85.7Bright
95.8Bright
105.8Bright
115.8Bright
125.9Bright
135.9Bright
146.0Bright
156.0Bright
166.0Intense
176.1Intense
186.1Intense
196.1Intense
206.2Intense
216.2Intense
226.2Intense
236.2Intense
246.3Intense
256.3Intense
266.3Intense
276.3Intense
286.3Intense
296.3Intense
306.3Intense
Planning a trip in September

Hazard calendar for Port Douglas

In seasonPeak

None of Port Douglas's seasonal hazards are active in September. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Port Douglas sits in the South Indian Ocean cyclone belt; the season peaks January–March.

Port Douglas's monsoon runs December–April, when most of the year's rain falls.

Cyclone
Monsoon
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is September a good time to visit Port Douglas?

Our two travel scores rate September for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

7.6
Sightseeing
1st-best month of the year
6.2
Beach & pool
2nd-best month of the year

September is one of the better times to visit Port Douglas for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Port Douglas in September

From September's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In September, Port Douglas sees daytime highs around 24°C and nights near 20°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes. About 7 days see rain.

sun protectionlight clothes

Sea temperature near Port Douglas in September

The nearest coast averages about 25°C in September — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 21 km away) is warmest in February at about 29°C and coldest in July near 24°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

22°24°26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan29Tropical
Feb29Tropical
Mar29Tropical
Apr27Warm
May26Warm
Jun24Warm
Jul24Refreshing
Aug24Refreshing
Sep25Warm
Oct26Warm
Nov27Warm
Dec29Tropical

UV index in Port Douglas in September

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in September peaks around 13 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Port Douglas peaks around February 12 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 21 at about 8 (very high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highExtremeFeb 12UV 16Jun 21UV 8
UV index (midday)Level
Jan16Extreme
Feb16Extreme
Mar14Extreme
Apr12Extreme
May9Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug10Very high
Sep13Extreme
Oct13Extreme
Nov13Extreme
Dec13Extreme
Location & terrain

Where is Port Douglas?

Port Douglas sits at 16.5°S, 145.5°E, 0 m above sea level, in Australia. The nearest listed city is Cairns, 58 km away.

TownsvilleKirwanAirlie BeachMackayMount IsaPort MoresbyDaru

Topography around Port Douglas

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Port Douglas.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Port Douglas has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 75 m around an average of 2 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,038 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,372 m.

The land around Port Douglas is covered by water (69%) and mangroves (21%) within 3 km, water (55%) and trees (32%) within 16 km, and trees (45%) and water (41%) within 80 km.

3 km
75 m
16 km
1,038 m
80 km
1,372 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwatermangroves
September weather nearby: Cairns 58 km · Townsville 340 km · Kirwan 341 km · Airlie Beach 543 km · Mackay 649 km · Mount Isa 786 km · Port Moresby 800 km · Daru 859 km

Australia travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type I
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 90% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$65,130
2025
Happiness
6.9 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
0.9
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
4.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
none 38%Roman Catholic 20%Protestant 18%other Christian 4%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Port Douglas (-16.4838°, 145.4673°, elevation 0 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).