Popayán weather in September

In September, Popayán sees average daytime highs of 21°C and overnight lows near 11°C, with 145 mm of rain across 18.1 wet days and about 12 hours of daylight. It is the 1st-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 21°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 1% of the time in September, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 12 hours at the start of September to 12 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, September is Popayán's 6th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Popayán's year-round climate.

Daytime high
21°
1st warmest
Overnight low
11°
9th coldest
Rainfall
145 mm
18.1 wet days
Daylight
12 hours
6:00 AM – 6:01 PM
Cloud cover
86%
6th clearest
Wind
6 km/h
4th windiest
Solar energy
4.99 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.8
out of 10

Temperature in September

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 21°C through the month.

A typical September day in Popayán reaches about 21°C in the afternoon and slips back to 11°C overnight — a 9°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 19°C and 23°C. Set against its neighbours, September runs on par with August and on par with October.

10°15°20°25°151015202530
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12111
22111
32111
42111
52111
62111
72111
82111
92111
102111
112111
122111
132111
142111
152111
162111
172111
182111
192111
202111
212111
222111
232111
242111
252111
262111
272111
282111
292111
302111

Popayán weather by month

How September compares with the rest of the year at a glance. September is the 1st-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan20° / 11°23321.911.94.4
Feb20° / 11°23021.311.94.2
Mar20° / 12°29925.4123.9
Apr20° / 12°28924.312.13.8
May20° / 12°19721.712.14.2
Jun20° / 11°9313.912.15.1
Jul20° / 11°641012.15.8
Aug21° / 11°649.912.16.0
Sep21° / 11°14518.1124.8
Oct20° / 11°26826.411.93.7
Nov19° / 11°33128.111.93.3
Dec20° / 11°29425.311.93.9

Cloud cover in September

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 1% of the time in September.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 7% of September, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 92%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
11189
21189
31189
41090
51090
61090
71090
81090
9991
10991
11991
12991
13991
14991
15991
16892
17892
18892
19892
20793
21793
22793
23793
24793
25595
26595
27595
28595
29595
30496

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

Popayán gets around 145 mm of rain over 18.1 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 61% and peaks near 76% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
144
245
345
446
547
648
749
850
952
1053
1154
1256
1357
1459
1560
1662
1763
1865
1966
2067
2169
2270
2371
2472
2573
2673
2774
2875
2975
3076

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 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)
11000
21000
31000
41000
51000
61000
71000
81000
91000
101000
111000
121000
131000
141000
151000
161000
171000
181000
191000
201000
21991
22991
23991
24991
25991
26991
27991
28991
29991
30991

Wind in September

Winds average 6 km/h in September.

Across September, daily wind ranges from about 5 km/h on the calmest days to 6 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202530
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
16calm
26calm
36calm
46calm
56calm
66calm
76calm
86calm
96calm
106calm
116calm
126calm
136calm
146calm
156calm
165calm
175calm
185calm
195calm
205calm
215calm
225calm
235calm
245calm
255calm
265calm
275calm
285calm
295calm
305calm

Sunrise & sunset in September

DaylightNight

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

Days grow by about 0 minutes over September. Sunrise moves from 6:05 AM to 5:56 AM, and sunset from 6:08 PM to 5:55 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.06:056:08
212.06:046:07
312.06:046:07
412.06:046:06
512.06:046:06
612.06:036:06
712.06:036:05
812.06:036:05
912.06:026:04
1012.06:026:04
1112.06:026:03
1212.06:026:03
1312.06:016:02
1412.06:016:02
1512.06:016:02
1612.06:006:01
1712.06:006:01
1812.06:006:00
1912.05:596:00
2012.05:595:59
2112.05:595:59
2212.05:595:59
2312.05:585:58
2412.05:585:58
2512.05:585:57
2612.05:575:57
2712.05:575:56
2812.05:575:56
2912.05:575:56
3012.05:565:55

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 4.99 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.23 kWh/m² to a high of 4.99 kWh/m² in February across the year — September's 4.99 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.1Bright
25.1Bright
35.1Bright
45.1Bright
55.1Bright
65.1Bright
75.1Bright
85.0Bright
95.0Bright
105.0Bright
115.0Bright
125.0Bright
135.0Bright
145.0Bright
155.0Bright
165.0Bright
175.0Bright
185.0Bright
195.0Bright
205.0Bright
215.0Bright
224.9Bright
234.9Bright
244.9Bright
254.9Bright
264.9Bright
274.9Bright
284.9Bright
294.9Bright
304.9Bright
Planning a trip in September

Is September a good time to visit Popayán?

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

4.8
Sightseeing
4th-best month of the year
2.9
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

September is a reasonable time to visit Popayán for sightseeing.

What to pack for Popayán in September

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

In September, Popayán sees daytime highs around 21°C and nights near 11°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 18 days see rain.

rain gearsun protection

UV index in Popayán in September

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in September peaks around 14 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Popayán peaks around February 21 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near November 20 at about 12 (extreme).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeFeb 21UV 16Nov 20UV 12
UV index (midday)Level
Jan15Extreme
Feb17Extreme
Mar16Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May15Extreme
Jun13Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep14Extreme
Oct14Extreme
Nov12Extreme
Dec13Extreme

Air quality in Popayán 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 Popayán is worst in March — around 19 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.1× the cleanest month (July, 9 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateMar 1419 µg/m³Jul 139 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan15Moderate
Feb18Moderate
Mar19Moderate
Apr16Moderate
May12Moderate
Jun10Good
Jul9Good
Aug12Good
Sep16Moderate
Oct13Moderate
Nov13Moderate
Dec14Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Popayán?

Popayán sits at 2.4°N, 76.6°W, 1,760 m above sea level, in Colombia. The nearest listed city is Piendamo, 24 km away.

Topography around Popayán

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Popayán has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 298 m around an average of 1,751 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,679 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,601 m.

The land around Popayán is covered by trees (44%) and artificial surfaces (37%) within 3 km, trees (65%) and grassland (32%) within 16 km, and trees (75%) and grassland (25%) within 80 km.

3 km
298 m
16 km
1,679 m
80 km
4,601 m
treesgrasslandartificial surfaces
September weather nearby: Piendamo 24 km · Villa Rica 28 km · Morales 35 km · Suárez 58 km · Patía 64 km · Santander de Quilichao 65 km · Isnos 70 km · San Agustin 73 km

Colombia travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Power plugs
Type A / B
120 / 240 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 38% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$8,562
2025
Happiness
6.0 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
74%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
24.9
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
15.4
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 480
Religion
Roman Catholic 64%Protestant 17%none 14%atheist 1%

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 Popayán (2.4382°, -76.6132°, elevation 1,760 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).