Thimphu weather in September

In September, Thimphu sees average daytime highs of 18°C and overnight lows near 11°C, with 255 mm of rain across 26.2 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 18°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 4% of the time in September, and the air most often feels dry.

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 Thimphu's 9th-clearest and 11th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Thimphu's year-round climate.

Daytime high
18°
4th warmest
Overnight low
11°
9th coldest
Rainfall
255 mm
26.2 wet days
Daylight
12 h 12 min
5:51 AM – 6:01 PM
Cloud cover
80%
9th clearest
Wind
3 km/h
11th windiest
Solar energy
3.87 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.5
out of 10

Thimphu is capital of Bhutan.

Air quality
Moderate
PM10 42 µg/m³ · 2015
Density
3,655/km²
people per km²
Founded
1955

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 18°C through the month.

A typical September day in Thimphu reaches about 18°C in the afternoon and slips back to 11°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 16°C and 20°C. Set against its neighbours, September runs about 1°C cooler than August and about 3°C warmer than October.

10°15°20°25°151015202530
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
11912
21912
31912
41912
51912
61912
71912
81911
91911
101811
111811
121811
131811
141811
151811
161811
171811
181811
191811
201810
211810
221810
231810
241810
251810
261810
271710
28179
29179
30179

How September really feels in Thimphu

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.

Thimphu 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 / -3°6617.216.410.50.8
Feb / -2°942116.2111.1
Mar11° / 1522710.511.81.8
Apr15° / 16026.1112.62.8
May17° / 23628.8013.33.3
Jun19° / 12°37829.2013.73.2
Jul19° / 13°48430.2013.63.1
Aug19° / 13°35028.80133.3
Sep18° / 11°25526.2012.23.5
Oct16° / 13922.80.111.33.5
Nov12° / 7218.22.410.62.7
Dec / -2°59179.810.31.6

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 13% of September, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 83%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
11189
21189
31189
41288
51288
61288
71288
81486
91486
101486
111486
121585
131585
141585
151585
161585
171684
181684
191783
201882
211981
221981
232080
242179
252278
262476
272674
282773
292971
303169

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

Thimphu gets around 255 mm of rain over 26.2 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 87% and peaks near 89% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
189
289
389
489
588
688
788
888
988
1088
1188
1288
1388
1488
1588
1688
1788
1888
1988
2088
2188
2287
2387
2487
2586
2686
2785
2884
2984
3083

Humidity in September

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, September lands in the dry band about 87% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)
16733
26931
37030
47228
57327
67525
77624
87822
98020
108119
118317
128515
138614
148812
158911
169010
17919
18928
19937
20937
21946
22955
23964
24964
25973
26973
27982
28982
29982
30991

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 5:44 AM to 5:58 AM, and sunset from 6:18 PM to 5:44 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.65:446:18
212.55:446:17
312.55:456:16
412.55:456:15
512.55:466:14
612.45:466:13
712.45:476:11
812.45:476:10
912.45:486:09
1012.35:486:08
1112.35:496:07
1212.35:496:05
1312.25:506:04
1412.25:506:03
1512.25:506:02
1612.25:516:01
1712.15:515:59
1812.15:525:58
1912.15:525:57
2012.05:535:56
2112.05:535:55
2212.05:545:53
2312.05:545:52
2411.95:555:51
2511.95:555:50
2611.95:565:49
2711.95:565:47
2811.85:575:46
2911.85:575:45
3011.85:585:44

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 3.87 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3 kWh/m² to a high of 5.43 kWh/m² in April across the year — September's 3.87 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

01234151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.8Moderate
23.8Moderate
33.8Moderate
43.8Moderate
53.9Moderate
63.9Moderate
73.9Moderate
83.9Moderate
93.9Moderate
103.9Moderate
113.9Moderate
123.9Moderate
133.9Moderate
143.9Moderate
153.9Moderate
163.9Moderate
173.9Moderate
183.9Moderate
193.9Moderate
203.9Moderate
213.9Moderate
223.9Moderate
233.9Moderate
243.9Moderate
253.9Moderate
263.9Moderate
273.9Moderate
283.9Moderate
293.9Moderate
304.0Moderate
Planning a trip in September

Hazard calendar for Thimphu

In seasonPeak

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

Thimphu's rainy season runs May–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 Thimphu?

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

3.5
Sightseeing
1st-best month of the year
Beach & pool
never really warm enough

September is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Thimphu.

What to pack for Thimphu in September

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

In September, Thimphu sees daytime highs around 18°C and nights near 11°C. Pack rain gear. About 26 days see rain.

rain gear

UV index in Thimphu 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 Thimphu peaks around July 12 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 at about 5 (high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecHighVery highExtremeVery highHighJul 12UV 15Dec 21UV 5
UV index (midday)Level
Jan6High
Feb8Very high
Mar11Extreme
Apr12Extreme
May14Extreme
Jun15Extreme
Jul15Extreme
Aug14Extreme
Sep13Extreme
Oct10Very high
Nov7High
Dec5High

Air quality in Thimphu 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 Thimphu 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 Thimphu?

Thimphu sits at 27.5°N, 89.6°E, 2,320 m above sea level, in Bhutan. The nearest listed city is Paro, 23 km away.

ParoPunakhaTsirangPhuentsholingTrongsaJakarMongar

Topography around Thimphu

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Thimphu has large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,129 m around an average of 2,631 m above sea level; within 16 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,897 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 7,127 m.

The land around Thimphu is covered by trees (55%) and grassland (28%) within 3 km, trees (85%) within 16 km, and trees (65%) and grassland (21%) within 80 km.

3 km
1,129 m
16 km
2,897 m
80 km
7,127 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainsnow and icemoss and lichen
September weather nearby: Paro 23 km · Punakha 27 km · Tsirang 69 km · Phuentsholing 73 km · Trongsa 85 km · Jakar 110 km · Darjeeling 144 km · Mongar 159 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 Thimphu (27.4661°, 89.6419°, elevation 2,320 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).