Punakha weather in September

In September, Punakha sees average daytime highs of 19°C and overnight lows near 12°C, with 385 mm of rain across 27.9 wet days and about 12.2 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-warmest and 4th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 19°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 4% of the time in September, and the air most often feels comfortable.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 36 min at the start of September to 11 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, September is Punakha's 9th-clearest and 10th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Punakha's year-round climate.

Daytime high
19°
4th warmest
Overnight low
12°
9th coldest
Rainfall
385 mm
27.9 wet days
Daylight
12 h 12 min
5:50 AM – 6:00 PM
Cloud cover
83%
9th clearest
Wind
3 km/h
10th windiest
Solar energy
3.66 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.4
out of 10

Punakha is city in Bhutan.

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 19°C through the month.

A typical September day in Punakha reaches about 19°C in the afternoon and slips back to 12°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 17°C and 21°C. Set against its neighbours, September runs about 1°C cooler than August and about 2°C warmer than October.

10°15°20°25°151015202530
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12013
22013
32013
42013
52013
62013
72013
82013
92013
101913
111913
121913
131912
141912
151912
161912
171912
181912
191912
201912
211912
221912
231912
241912
251911
261911
271911
281911
291911
301811

How September really feels in Punakha

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.

Punakha weather by month

How September compares with the rest of the year at a glance. September is the 4th-warmest and 4th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan / -1°16220.914.110.51.1
Feb10° / 19222.711.3111.4
Mar13° / 24227.14.911.82.1
Apr16° / 20826.60.212.63.1
May19° / 10°26528.5013.33.5
Jun20° / 13°50129.5013.73.2
Jul20° / 14°73530.9013.63.1
Aug20° / 14°57130.40133.2
Sep19° / 12°38527.9012.23.4
Oct17° / 18521.7011.34.0
Nov14° / 11117.40.410.63.2
Dec10° / 11618.85.810.32.0

Cloud cover in September

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 4% of the time in September.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 10% of September, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 86%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
1793
2991
3991
4991
5991
61090
71090
81090
91189
101189
111288
121288
131288
141288
151288
161288
171288
181387
191387
201387
211585
221585
231783
241783
251882
262080
272080
282278
292476
302674

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

Punakha gets around 385 mm of rain over 27.9 wet days in September. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 93% and peaks near 97% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
197
297
397
497
597
697
796
896
996
1096
1195
1295
1395
1494
1594
1694
1794
1893
1993
2092
2192
2291
2390
2490
2589
2688
2787
2886
2985
3084

Humidity in September

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, September lands in the comfortable band about 59% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
117821
217821
318811
420791
521781
622771
724751
825741
927721
1029701
1131681
1232680
1334660
1436640
1538620
1639610
1741590
1843570
1945550
2047530
2150500
2252480
2354460
2457430
2560400
2662380
2765350
2868320
2971290
3073270

Wind in September

Winds average 3 km/h in September.

Across September, daily wind ranges from about 3 km/h on the calmest days to 3 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202530
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
13calm
23calm
33calm
43calm
53calm
63calm
73calm
83calm
93calm
103calm
113calm
123calm
133calm
143calm
153calm
163calm
173calm
183calm
193calm
203calm
213calm
223calm
233calm
243calm
253calm
263calm
273calm
283calm
293calm
303calm

Sunrise & sunset in September

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 36 min at the start of September to 11 h 48 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 48 minutes over September. Sunrise moves from 5:43 AM to 5:57 AM, and sunset from 6:17 PM to 5:43 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.65:436:17
212.55:436:16
312.55:446:15
412.55:446:14
512.55:456:13
612.45:456:12
712.45:466:10
812.45:466:09
912.45:476:08
1012.35:476:07
1112.35:486:06
1212.35:486:05
1312.25:496:03
1412.25:496:02
1512.25:506:01
1612.25:506:00
1712.15:505:58
1812.15:515:57
1912.15:515:56
2012.05:525:55
2112.05:525:54
2212.05:535:52
2312.05:535:51
2411.95:545:50
2511.95:545:49
2611.95:555:48
2711.95:555:46
2811.85:565:45
2911.85:565:44
3011.85:575:43

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 3.66 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.64 kWh/m² to a high of 4.96 kWh/m² in April across the year — September's 3.66 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

01234151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.6Moderate
23.6Moderate
33.7Moderate
43.7Moderate
53.7Moderate
63.7Moderate
73.7Moderate
83.7Moderate
93.7Moderate
103.7Moderate
113.7Moderate
123.7Moderate
133.7Moderate
143.7Moderate
153.7Moderate
163.7Moderate
173.7Moderate
183.7Moderate
193.7Moderate
203.7Moderate
213.6Moderate
223.6Moderate
233.6Moderate
243.6Moderate
253.6Moderate
263.6Moderate
273.6Moderate
283.6Moderate
293.7Moderate
303.7Moderate
Planning a trip in September

Hazard calendar for Punakha

In seasonPeak

In September, Punakha sits inside its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Punakha's rainy season runs June–September, when most of the year's rain falls.

Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is September a good time to visit Punakha?

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

3.4
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
1.5
Beach & pool
4th-best month of the year

September is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Punakha.

What to pack for Punakha in September

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

In September, Punakha sees daytime highs around 19°C and nights near 12°C. Pack rain gear. About 28 days see rain.

rain gear

UV index in Punakha in September

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in September peaks around 12 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Punakha peaks around July 12 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 23 at about 5 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecHighVery highExtremeVery highHighJul 12UV 15Dec 23UV 5
UV index (midday)Level
Jan5Moderate
Feb7High
Mar10Very high
Apr11Extreme
May13Extreme
Jun14Extreme
Jul15Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct9Very high
Nov6High
Dec5Moderate

Air quality in Punakha in September

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where September falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Punakha is worst in February — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.4× the cleanest month (September, 4 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodFeb 2116 µg/m³Sep 164 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb16Moderate
Mar15Moderate
Apr15Moderate
May10Good
Jun6Good
Jul4Good
Aug4Good
Sep4Good
Oct4Good
Nov5Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Punakha?

Punakha sits at 27.6°N, 89.9°E, 1,293 m above sea level, in Bhutan. The nearest listed city is Thimphu, 27 km away.

ThimphuParoTrongsaTsirangJakarPhuentsholingMongarTrashigang

Topography around Punakha

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Punakha has large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,103 m around an average of 1,495 m above sea level; within 16 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,669 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 7,227 m.

The land around Punakha is covered by trees (62%) and grassland (21%) within 3 km, trees (88%) within 16 km, and trees (59%) within 80 km.

3 km
1,103 m
16 km
2,669 m
80 km
7,227 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainsnow and icewatermoss and lichen
September weather nearby: Thimphu 27 km · Paro 49 km · Trongsa 63 km · Tsirang 68 km · Jakar 86 km · Phuentsholing 95 km · Mongar 139 km · Trashigang 168 km

Bhutan travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type C / D / F / G / M
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 23% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$4,493
2025
Happiness
5.1 / 10
World Happiness, 2018
Safe drinking water
66%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
2.5
per 100k, 2020
Road deaths
16.2
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Lower middle
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 473
Religion
Lamaistic Buddhist 75%Indian- and Nepali-influenced Hinduism 22%other 3%

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 Punakha (27.5914°, 89.8774°, elevation 1,293 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. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).