San Rafael del Sur weather in September

In September, San Rafael del Sur sees average daytime highs of 31°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 256 mm of rain across 24.2 wet days and about 12.1 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 31°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 9% of the time in September, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 12 min at the start of September to 11 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, September is San Rafael del Sur's 11th-clearest and 11th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see San Rafael del Sur's year-round climate.

Daytime high
31°
11th warmest
Overnight low
25°
6th coldest
Rainfall
256 mm
24.2 wet days
Daylight
12 h 06 min
5:38 AM – 5:42 PM
Cloud cover
78%
11th clearest
Wind
10 km/h
11th windiest
Solar energy
5.41 kWh/m²
Travel score
2.9
out of 10

San Rafael del Sur is Town in Nicaragua, seat of the second admin division Municipio de San Rafael del Sur.

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 31°C through the month.

A typical September day in San Rafael del Sur reaches about 31°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 6°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 28°C and 33°C. Set against its neighbours, September runs about 1°C cooler than August and on par with October.

20°25°30°35°151015202530
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13125
23125
33125
43125
53125
63125
73125
83125
93125
103125
113125
123125
133125
143125
153125
163125
173124
183124
193124
203124
213024
223024
233024
243024
253024
263024
273024
283024
293024
303024

How September really feels in San Rafael del Sur

Once humidity and wind are folded in, September averages 30 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
30
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in September is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

San Rafael del Sur weather by month

How September compares with the rest of the year at a glance. September is the 11th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan32° / 24°10.311.45.1
Feb33° / 24°10.311.64.8
Mar34° / 25°20.711.94.2
Apr34° / 26°204.212.33.4
May33° / 26°19017.912.52.9
Jun31° / 25°2002012.73.1
Jul32° / 25°9311.912.63.7
Aug32° / 25°1441712.43.3
Sep31° / 25°25624.212.12.9
Oct30° / 24°31124.611.73.2
Nov31° / 24°769.111.54.5
Dec32° / 24°61.111.35.1

Cloud cover in September

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 9% of the time in September.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of September, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 81%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12476
22476
32476
42476
52476
62476
72476
82476
92377
102377
112278
122278
132179
142179
152080
161981
171882
181882
191783
201684
211684
221585
231585
241585
251585
261585
271684
281684
291684
301783

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

San Rafael del Sur gets around 256 mm of rain over 24.2 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 81% and peaks near 90% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
171
272
372
472
572
673
773
873
973
1074
1175
1276
1377
1478
1579
1681
1782
1883
1984
2086
2187
2288
2389
2489
2590
2690
2790
2889
2989
3088

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 82% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
138413
228414
328414
428414
528315
628315
728315
828216
928216
1018316
1118217
1218217
1318217
1418118
1518118
1618118
1718118
1818118
1918118
2018118
2108218
2208218
2308218
2408218
2508317
2608317
2708317
2808317
2908317
3008416

Wind in September

Winds average 10 km/h in September.

Across September, daily wind ranges from about 9 km/h on the calmest days to 11 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202530
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
111calm
210calm
310calm
410calm
510calm
610calm
710calm
810calm
910calm
1010calm
1110calm
1210calm
1310calm
1410calm
159calm
169calm
179calm
189calm
199calm
209calm
219calm
229calm
239calm
249calm
259calm
269calm
279calm
289calm
299calm
309calm

Sunrise & sunset in September

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 12 min at the start of September to 11 h 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 18 minutes over September. Sunrise moves from 5:39 AM to 5:38 AM, and sunset from 5:52 PM to 5:32 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.25:395:52
212.25:395:52
312.25:395:51
412.25:385:50
512.25:385:50
612.25:385:49
712.25:385:48
812.25:385:48
912.15:385:47
1012.15:385:46
1112.15:385:46
1212.15:385:45
1312.15:385:44
1412.15:385:43
1512.15:385:43
1612.15:385:42
1712.15:385:41
1812.05:385:41
1912.05:385:40
2012.05:385:39
2112.05:385:38
2212.05:385:38
2312.05:385:37
2412.05:385:36
2512.05:385:36
2612.05:385:35
2711.95:385:34
2811.95:385:34
2911.95:385:33
3011.95:385:32

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 5.41 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.86 kWh/m² to a high of 6.96 kWh/m² in April across the year — September's 5.41 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.7Bright
25.7Bright
35.7Bright
45.7Bright
55.7Bright
65.7Bright
75.6Bright
85.6Bright
95.6Bright
105.6Bright
115.5Bright
125.5Bright
135.5Bright
145.5Bright
155.4Bright
165.4Bright
175.4Bright
185.3Bright
195.3Bright
205.3Bright
215.2Bright
225.2Bright
235.2Bright
245.2Bright
255.1Bright
265.1Bright
275.1Bright
285.1Bright
295.0Bright
305.0Bright
Planning a trip in September

Hazard calendar for San Rafael del Sur

In seasonPeak

In September, San Rafael del Sur sits inside its atlantic hurricane and monsoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

San Rafael del Sur sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

San Rafael del Sur's monsoon runs August–October, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is September a good time to visit San Rafael del Sur?

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

2.9
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
4.3
Beach & pool
12th-best month of the year

September is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in San Rafael del Sur.

What to pack for San Rafael del Sur in September

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

In September, San Rafael del Sur sees daytime highs around 31°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 24 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near San Rafael del Sur 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 at the nearest coast (about 21 km away) is warmest in September at about 29°C and coldest in February near 27°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
Jan27Warm
Feb27Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr28Warm
May29Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov28Tropical
Dec28Warm

UV index in San Rafael del Sur 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 San Rafael del Sur peaks around March 22 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 14 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 highMar 22UV 14Dec 14UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan11Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar14Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May12Extreme
Jun13Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct11Extreme
Nov10Very high
Dec9Very high

Air quality in San Rafael del Sur 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 San Rafael del Sur is worst in July — around 25 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.5× the cleanest month (January, 7 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1625 µg/m³Jan 187 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb9Good
Mar10Good
Apr21Moderate
May24Moderate
Jun21Moderate
Jul25Moderate
Aug20Moderate
Sep15Moderate
Oct13Moderate
Nov11Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is San Rafael del Sur?

San Rafael del Sur sits at 11.8°N, 86.4°W, 126 m above sea level, in Nicaragua. The nearest listed city is El Crucero, 21 km away.

MasatepeCiudad SandinoManaguaMasaya

Topography around San Rafael del Sur

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of San Rafael del Sur.

Within 3 km, the terrain around San Rafael del Sur has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 152 m around an average of 119 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 693 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,305 m.

The land around San Rafael del Sur is covered by trees (48%) and grassland (40%) within 3 km, trees (54%) and grassland (29%) within 16 km, and water (46%) and trees (30%) within 80 km.

3 km
152 m
16 km
693 m
80 km
1,305 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
September weather nearby: El Crucero 21 km · Diriamba 22 km · Jinotepe 26 km · San Marcos 26 km · Masatepe 33 km · Ciudad Sandino 36 km · Managua 38 km · Masaya 40 km

Nicaragua travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 34% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$3,173
2025
Happiness
6.3 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
11.3
per 100k, 2021
Road deaths
16.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Lower middle
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 512
Religion
Roman Catholic 45%Protestant 39%none 14%other 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 San Rafael del Sur (11.8485°, -86.4384°, elevation 126 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. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). 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. 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).