Tarawa weather in September

In September, Tarawa sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 27°C, with 89 mm of rain across 13.9 wet days and about 12 hours of daylight. It is the 1st-warmest and 12th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 46% of the time in September, and the air most often feels oppressive.

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 Tarawa's 1st-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Tarawa's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
1st warmest
Overnight low
27°
10th coldest
Rainfall
89 mm
13.9 wet days
Daylight
12 hours
6:22 AM – 6:23 PM
Cloud cover
51%
1st clearest
Wind
17 km/h
6th windiest
Solar energy
6.46 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.5
out of 10

Temperature in September

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month.

A typical September day in Tarawa reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 27°C overnight — a 2°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 27°C and 29°C. Set against its neighbours, September runs on par with August and on par with October.

24°26°28°30°32°151015202530
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12827
22827
32827
42827
52827
62827
72827
82827
92827
102827
112827
122827
132827
142827
152827
162827
172827
182827
192827
202827
212827
222827
232827
242827
252827
262827
272827
282827
292827
302827

How September really feels in Tarawa

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.

Tarawa weather by month

How September compares with the rest of the year at a glance. September is the 1st-warmest and 12th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan28° / 26°21117.811.95.1
Feb28° / 26°15614.8125.3
Mar28° / 26°22120.5124.9
Apr28° / 26°20622124.5
May28° / 27°14319.812.14.8
Jun28° / 27°13919.112.14.7
Jul28° / 26°13418.812.14.9
Aug28° / 27°11215.6125.4
Sep28° / 27°8913.9125.5
Oct28° / 27°9112.8125.6
Nov28° / 27°9312.911.95.5
Dec28° / 27°18517.711.95.1

Cloud cover in September

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 46% of the time in September, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 17% of September, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 37%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16337
26337
36238
46238
56238
66238
76238
86238
96238
106238
116238
126238
136238
146337
156337
166337
176337
186436
196436
206535
216535
226535
236535
246436
256337
266337
276337
286337
296139
306139

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

Tarawa gets around 89 mm of rain over 13.9 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 45% and peaks near 48% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
147
247
347
448
548
648
748
848
948
1048
1147
1246
1346
1445
1545
1645
1744
1844
1944
2043
2143
2243
2343
2443
2543
2643
2744
2844
2944
3044

Humidity in September

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, September lands in the oppressive band about 76% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
117623
217623
317524
417524
517524
617524
717524
817425
907624
1007624
1107624
1207624
1317623
1417623
1517623
1617722
1717722
1817722
1917722
2027721
2127721
2227721
2327721
2427721
2527721
2627721
2727721
2827721
2927721
3027622

Wind in September

Winds average 17 km/h in September.

Across September, daily wind ranges from about 16 km/h on the calmest days to 17 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202530
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
116light breeze
216light breeze
316light breeze
416light breeze
516light breeze
616light breeze
716light breeze
816light breeze
916light breeze
1016light breeze
1116light breeze
1216light breeze
1316light breeze
1416light breeze
1516light breeze
1616light breeze
1716light breeze
1816light breeze
1916light breeze
2016light breeze
2117light breeze
2217light breeze
2317light breeze
2417light breeze
2517light breeze
2617light breeze
2717light breeze
2817light breeze
2917light breeze
3017light breeze

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 6:27 AM to 6:18 AM, and sunset from 6:29 PM to 6:17 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.06:276:29
212.06:276:28
312.06:266:28
412.06:266:27
512.06:266:27
612.06:256:27
712.06:256:26
812.06:256:26
912.06:256:25
1012.06:246:25
1112.06:246:25
1212.06:246:24
1312.06:236:24
1412.06:236:23
1512.06:236:23
1612.06:226:23
1712.06:226:22
1812.06:226:22
1912.06:216:21
2012.06:216:21
2112.06:216:21
2212.06:206:20
2312.06:206:20
2412.06:206:19
2512.06:196:19
2612.06:196:19
2712.06:196:18
2812.06:186:18
2912.06:186:17
3012.06:186:17

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 6.46 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 5.52 kWh/m² to a high of 6.46 kWh/m² in September across the year — September's 6.46 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.4Intense
26.4Intense
36.4Intense
46.4Intense
56.4Intense
66.4Intense
76.4Intense
86.4Intense
96.4Intense
106.5Intense
116.5Intense
126.5Intense
136.5Intense
146.5Intense
156.5Intense
166.5Intense
176.5Intense
186.5Intense
196.5Intense
206.5Intense
216.5Intense
226.5Intense
236.5Intense
246.5Intense
256.5Intense
266.5Intense
276.5Intense
286.5Intense
296.5Intense
306.5Intense
Planning a trip in September

Is September a good time to visit Tarawa?

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

5.5
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
6.4
Beach & pool
2nd-best month of the year

September is a reasonable time to visit Tarawa for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Tarawa in September

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

In September, Tarawa sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 27°C. Pack light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 14 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Tarawa in September

The nearest coast averages about 29°C in September — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea offshore is warmest in July at about 29°C and coldest in February near 28°C.

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

26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan29Tropical
Feb28Tropical
Mar28Tropical
Apr29Tropical
May29Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec29Tropical

UV index in Tarawa 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 Tarawa peaks around March 14 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 22 at about 12 (extreme).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeMar 14UV 16Jun 22UV 12
UV index (midday)Level
Jan14Extreme
Feb16Extreme
Mar16Extreme
Apr15Extreme
May14Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep14Extreme
Oct14Extreme
Nov13Extreme
Dec12Extreme
Location & terrain

Where is Tarawa?

Tarawa sits at 1.3°N, 173.0°E, 6 m above sea level, in Kiribati. The nearest listed city is Dalap-Uliga-Dorrit, 664 km away.

Topography around Tarawa

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Tarawa has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 9 m around an average of 0 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 12 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 16 m.

The land around Tarawa is covered by water (98%) within 3 km, water (99%) within 16 km, and water (100%) within 80 km.

3 km
9 m
16 km
12 m
80 km
16 m
grasslandartificial surfaceswater
September weather nearby: Dalap-Uliga-Dorrit 664 km · Majuro 665 km · Yaren 705 km · Funafuti 1,294 km · Palikir 1,756 km · Malango 1,865 km · Panatina 1,870 km · Vura 1,872 km

Kiribati travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type I
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 65% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$2,559
2025
Safe drinking water
15%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
7.1
per 100k, 2012
Road deaths
1.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Lower middle
World Bank
Religion
Roman Catholic 59%Kiribati Uniting Church 21%Kiribati Protestant Church 8%Church of Jesus Christ 6%

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 Tarawa (1.3278°, 172.977°, elevation 6 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. 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).