Lilongwe weather in September

In September, Lilongwe sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 15°C, with 1 mm of rain across 0.3 wet days and about 11.9 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 26°C in the first days to 29°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 77% of the time in September, and the air most often feels dry.

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 Lilongwe's 1st-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Lilongwe's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
4th warmest
Overnight low
15°
5th coldest
Rainfall
1 mm
0.3 wet days
Daylight
11 h 54 min
5:41 AM – 5:37 PM
Cloud cover
24%
1st clearest
Wind
13 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
6.59 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.3
out of 10

Lilongwe is capital of Malawi.

Density
1,533/km²
people per km²
Founded
1902

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

Temperature in September

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 26°C in the first days to 29°C by the end.

A typical September day in Lilongwe reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 15°C overnight — a 12°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 25°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, September runs about 3°C warmer than August and about 2°C cooler than October.

10°15°20°25°30°35°151015202530
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12614
22614
32614
42614
52714
62714
72714
82714
92714
102715
112715
122715
132715
142715
152715
162815
172815
182815
192816
202816
212816
222816
232816
242816
252816
262816
272916
282916
292917
302917

Lilongwe weather by month

How September compares with the rest of the year at a glance. September is the 4th-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 18°2082512.74.2
Feb26° / 18°15820.212.54.6
Mar26° / 18°11317.212.15.4
Apr26° / 16°245.411.77.5
May25° / 14°40.711.48.7
Jun23° / 12°10.111.29.0
Jul23° / 11°10.211.38.8
Aug25° / 13°10.111.59.0
Sep28° / 15°10.311.98.3
Oct29° / 18°101.712.36.7
Nov30° / 19°397.412.65.4
Dec28° / 19°14219.312.84.7

Cloud cover in September

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 77% of the time in September, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 13% of September, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 11%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
19010
29010
39010
49010
59010
69010
79010
88911
98911
108911
118911
128911
138911
148911
158911
168812
178812
188911
198911
208911
218911
228911
238911
249010
259010
269010
278812
288812
298911
308911

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

Lilongwe gets around 1 mm of rain over 0.3 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 1% and peaks near 3% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
10
21
31
41
51
61
71
81
91
101
111
121
131
141
151
161
171
181
191
201
211
221
231
241
252
262
272
282
293
303

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 94% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
19730
29640
39640
49550
59550
69550
79550
89460
99460
109460
119460
129460
139460
149460
159550
169550
179550
189550
199550
209550
219550
229550
239460
249370
259370
269181
279091
2889101
2988111
3086122

Wind in September

Winds average 13 km/h in September.

Across September, daily wind ranges from about 12 km/h on the calmest days to 13 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202530
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
112light breeze
212light breeze
312light breeze
412light breeze
512light breeze
612light breeze
712light breeze
812light breeze
913light breeze
1013light breeze
1113light breeze
1213light breeze
1313light breeze
1413light breeze
1513light breeze
1613light breeze
1713light breeze
1813light breeze
1913light breeze
2013light breeze
2113light breeze
2213light breeze
2313light breeze
2413light breeze
2513light breeze
2613light breeze
2713light breeze
2813light breeze
2913light breeze
3013light 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 5:53 AM to 5:31 AM, and sunset from 5:36 PM to 5:37 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.75:535:36
211.75:525:36
311.85:515:36
411.85:515:36
511.85:505:37
611.85:495:37
711.85:485:37
811.85:485:37
911.85:475:37
1011.85:465:37
1111.95:455:37
1211.95:455:37
1311.95:445:37
1411.95:435:37
1511.95:425:37
1611.95:415:37
1711.95:415:37
1811.95:405:37
1912.05:395:37
2012.05:385:37
2112.05:385:37
2212.05:375:37
2312.05:365:37
2412.05:355:37
2512.05:355:37
2612.15:345:37
2712.15:335:37
2812.15:325:37
2912.15:325:37
3012.15:315:37

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 6.59 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.83 kWh/m² to a high of 6.91 kWh/m² in October across the year — September's 6.59 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.2Intense
26.2Intense
36.2Intense
46.3Intense
56.3Intense
66.3Intense
76.3Intense
86.4Intense
96.4Intense
106.4Intense
116.4Intense
126.5Intense
136.5Intense
146.5Intense
156.5Intense
166.6Intense
176.6Intense
186.6Intense
196.7Intense
206.7Intense
216.7Intense
226.8Intense
236.8Intense
246.8Intense
256.8Intense
266.8Intense
276.8Intense
286.8Intense
296.8Intense
306.8Intense
Planning a trip in September

Hazard calendar for Lilongwe

In seasonPeak

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

Lilongwe's monsoon runs December–March, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is September a good time to visit Lilongwe?

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

8.3
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
8.8
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Lilongwe in September

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

In September, Lilongwe sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 15°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection.

light clothessun protection

UV index in Lilongwe in September

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in September peaks around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Lilongwe peaks around January 19 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 18 at about 9 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highExtremeJan 19UV 16Jun 18UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan16Extreme
Feb15Extreme
Mar15Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May10Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug11Extreme
Sep11Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov13Extreme
Dec14Extreme

Air quality in Lilongwe 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 Lilongwe is worst in August — around 39 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 2.8× the cleanest month (January, 14 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorModerateAug 1938 µg/m³Jan 1214 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan14Moderate
Feb17Moderate
Mar19Moderate
Apr20Moderate
May25Moderate
Jun28Moderate
Jul33Moderate
Aug39Poor
Sep36Poor
Oct25Moderate
Nov18Moderate
Dec15Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Lilongwe?

Lilongwe sits at 14.0°S, 33.8°E, 1,056 m above sea level, in Malawi. The nearest listed city is Mponela, 49 km away.

MponelaDedzaSalimaMchinjiUlonguéKasunguMonkey BayNkhotakota

Topography around Lilongwe

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Lilongwe has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 94 m around an average of 1,056 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 287 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,693 m.

The land around Lilongwe is covered by artificial surfaces (41%) and trees (35%) within 3 km, cropland (61%) within 16 km, and cropland (63%) within 80 km.

3 km
94 m
16 km
287 m
80 km
1,693 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrain
September weather nearby: Mponela 49 km · Dedza 75 km · Salima 75 km · Mchinji 100 km · Ulongué 104 km · Kasungu 109 km · Monkey Bay 122 km · Nkhotakota 128 km

Malawi travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type G
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 53% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$672
2025
Happiness
3.3 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
18%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
1.8
per 100k, 2012
Road deaths
33.4
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Low
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 465
Religion
Protestant 34%other Christian 27%Roman Catholic 17%Muslim 14%

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 Lilongwe (-13.9669°, 33.7873°, elevation 1,056 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).