Durban weather in September

In September, Durban sees average daytime highs of 23°C and overnight lows near 16°C, with 60 mm of rain across 8.6 wet days and about 11.8 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 23°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 44% of the time in September, and the air most often feels comfortable.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 24 min at the start of September to 12 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, September is Durban's 6th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Durban's year-round climate.

Daytime high
23°
9th warmest
Overnight low
16°
5th coldest
Rainfall
60 mm
8.6 wet days
Daylight
11 h 48 min
5:56 AM – 5:45 PM
Cloud cover
49%
6th clearest
Wind
14 km/h
5th windiest
Solar energy
4.55 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.2
out of 10

Durban is city in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Density
14,776/km²
people per km²
Founded
1835

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 23°C through the month.

A typical September day in Durban reaches about 23°C in the afternoon and slips back to 16°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 19°C and 28°C. Set against its neighbours, September runs on par with August and on par with October.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202530
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12315
22315
32316
42316
52316
62316
72316
82316
92316
102316
112316
122316
132316
142316
152316
162316
172316
182316
192316
202316
212316
222316
232316
242316
252316
262316
272316
282317
292317
302317

Durban weather by month

How September compares with the rest of the year at a glance. September is the 9th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan27° / 21°911313.76.0
Feb27° / 22°8411.313.16.1
Mar27° / 21°9011.412.26.5
Apr25° / 19°748.611.37.3
May24° / 16°435.410.58.2
Jun23° / 14°284.610.18.4
Jul22° / 13°424.710.38.2
Aug23° / 14°345.910.97.9
Sep23° / 16°608.611.87.2
Oct23° / 17°9012.512.76.4
Nov24° / 19°9613.413.56.2
Dec26° / 20°9413.113.96.1

Cloud cover in September

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 44% of the time in September.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of September, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 42%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16832
26733
36733
46634
56535
66436
76436
86337
96238
106139
116139
126040
135842
145842
155743
165743
175644
185545
195545
205446
215446
225347
235347
245347
255347
265248
275248
285149
295050
304951

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

Durban gets around 60 mm of rain over 8.6 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 29% and peaks near 37% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
123
223
324
424
525
625
726
826
926
1027
1127
1228
1328
1429
1529
1629
1730
1830
1930
2031
2131
2231
2332
2433
2533
2634
2735
2836
2936
3037

Humidity in September

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, September lands in the comfortable band about 41% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
13347200
23147210
33047221
42947231
52847241
62846251
72746261
82745271
92645281
102545291
112544301
122443311
132443322
142342332
152341342
162240353
172140363
182139363
192039374
202038384
212038384
221937395
231937395
241936405
251935406
261835416
271834426
281834426
291734427
301733437

Wind in September

Winds average 14 km/h in September.

Across September, daily wind ranges from about 14 km/h on the calmest days to 15 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202530
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
114light breeze
214light breeze
314light breeze
414light breeze
514light breeze
614light breeze
714light breeze
814light breeze
914light breeze
1014light breeze
1114light breeze
1214light breeze
1314light breeze
1414light breeze
1514light breeze
1614light breeze
1714light breeze
1814light breeze
1914light breeze
2014light breeze
2114light breeze
2214light breeze
2314light breeze
2414light breeze
2515light breeze
2615light breeze
2715light breeze
2815light breeze
2915light breeze
3015light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in September

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 24 min at the start of September to 12 h 18 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 54 minutes over September. Sunrise moves from 6:15 AM to 5:38 AM, and sunset from 5:37 PM to 5:53 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.46:155:37
211.46:135:37
311.46:125:38
411.56:115:38
511.56:105:39
611.56:085:39
711.56:075:40
811.66:065:40
911.66:055:41
1011.66:035:42
1111.76:025:42
1211.76:015:43
1311.75:595:43
1411.85:585:44
1511.85:575:44
1611.85:565:45
1711.95:545:45
1811.95:535:46
1911.95:525:47
2011.95:505:47
2112.05:495:48
2212.05:485:48
2312.05:465:49
2412.15:455:49
2512.15:445:50
2612.15:435:50
2712.25:415:51
2812.25:405:52
2912.25:395:52
3012.35:385:53

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 4.55 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.16 kWh/m² to a high of 5.78 kWh/m² in January across the year — September's 4.55 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

024151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.3Bright
24.3Bright
34.4Bright
44.4Bright
54.4Bright
64.4Bright
74.4Bright
84.4Bright
94.5Bright
104.5Bright
114.5Bright
124.5Bright
134.5Bright
144.5Bright
154.5Bright
164.5Bright
174.5Bright
184.6Bright
194.6Bright
204.6Bright
214.6Bright
224.6Bright
234.6Bright
244.6Bright
254.7Bright
264.7Bright
274.7Bright
284.7Bright
294.7Bright
304.7Bright
Planning a trip in September

Hazard calendar for Durban

In seasonPeak

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

Durban sits in the South Indian Ocean cyclone belt; the season peaks January–March.

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

Is September a good time to visit Durban?

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

7.2
Sightseeing
6th-best month of the year
5.5
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

September is one of the better times to visit Durban for general sightseeing.

What to pack for Durban in September

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

In September, Durban sees daytime highs around 23°C and nights near 16°C. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 9 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Durban in September

The nearest coast averages about 21°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 February at about 26°C and coldest in August near 21°C.

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

20°22°24°26°28°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan25Warm
Feb26Warm
Mar26Warm
Apr25Warm
May24Refreshing
Jun22Refreshing
Jul22Refreshing
Aug21Refreshing
Sep21Refreshing
Oct22Refreshing
Nov23Refreshing
Dec24Warm

UV index in Durban in September

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in September peaks around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Durban peaks around January 16 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 22 at about 4 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeHighModerateHighExtremeExtremeJan 16UV 13Jun 22UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan13Extreme
Feb12Extreme
Mar10Extreme
Apr6High
May5Moderate
Jun4Moderate
Jul4Moderate
Aug5High
Sep6High
Oct10Extreme
Nov10Very high
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Durban 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 Durban is worst in July — around 148 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 6.1× the cleanest month (January, 24 µg/m³).

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

0306090120150JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorUnhealthyPoorModerateJul 11147 µg/m³Jan 1625 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan24Moderate
Feb31Moderate
Mar50Poor
Apr77Unhealthy
May126Unhealthy
Jun144Unhealthy
Jul148Unhealthy
Aug116Unhealthy
Sep88Unhealthy
Oct57Unhealthy
Nov41Poor
Dec30Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Durban?

Durban sits at 29.9°S, 31.0°E, 21 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Pinetown, 14 km away.

Topography around Durban

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Durban has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 110 m around an average of 9 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 442 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,547 m.

The land around Durban is covered by water (42%) and artificial surfaces (39%) within 3 km, water (49%), trees (24%) and artificial surfaces (23%) within 16 km, and trees (34%), water (32%) and grassland (20%) within 80 km.

3 km
110 m
16 km
442 m
80 km
1,547 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
September weather nearby: Pinetown 14 km · Ntuzuma 15 km · Folweni 26 km · Tongaat 33 km · Mpumalanga 38 km · Ballitoville 40 km · eMkhomazi 45 km · Shakaskraal 49 km

South Africa travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type C / M / N
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 41% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$6,598
2025
Happiness
5.0 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
68%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
43.7
per 100k, 2022
Road deaths
22.2
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Very high
EF EPI 602
Religion
Christian 86%or other traditional African religions 5%nothing in particular 5%Muslim 2%

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 Durban (-29.8579°, 31.0292°, elevation 21 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).