Columbia weather in September

In September, Columbia sees average daytime highs of 79°F and overnight lows near 59°F, with 3.4 in of rain across 7.7 wet days and about 12.3 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-warmest and 6th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 83°F in the first days to 74°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time in September, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 54 min at the start of September to 11 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, September is Columbia's 1st-clearest and 10th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Columbia's year-round climate.

Daytime high
79°
4th warmest
Overnight low
59°
9th coldest
Rainfall
3.4 in
7.7 wet days
Daylight
12 h 12 min
5:56 AM – 6:11 PM
Cloud cover
45%
1st clearest
Wind
6 mph
10th windiest
Solar energy
4.82 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.1
out of 10

Columbia is city in and county seat of Boone County, Missouri, United States.

Density
765/km²
people per km²
Founded
1821

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

Temperature in September

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 83°F in the first days to 74°F by the end.

A typical September day in Columbia reaches about 79°F in the afternoon and slips back to 59°F overnight — a 20°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 68°F and 89°F. Set against its neighbours, September runs about 7°F cooler than August and about 12°F warmer than October.

40°60°80°151015202530
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
18465
28464
38364
48364
58363
68263
78262
88262
98162
108161
118061
128060
138060
147959
157959
167859
177858
187858
197757
207757
217756
227656
237656
247655
257555
267555
277554
287454
297453
307453

How September really feels in Columbia

Once humidity and wind are folded in, September averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
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.

Columbia weather by month

How September compares with the rest of the year at a glance. September is the 4th-warmest and 6th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan38° / 23°2.27.23.79.60.0
Feb44° / 27°2.36.92.910.50.7
Mar55° / 36°3.410.71.611.73.4
Apr65° / 46°5.111.60.3135.6
May74° / 56°5.313.3014.16.2
Jun83° / 66°4.411.9014.75.4
Jul88° / 69°3.79.5014.54.7
Aug86° / 67°3.08.9013.55.2
Sep79° / 59°3.47.7012.37.1
Oct67° / 47°3.38.80.1116.4
Nov53° / 36°3.17.81.19.93.3
Dec42° / 27°2.36.92.39.30.4

Cloud cover in September

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time in September, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of September, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 38%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16238
26337
36337
46337
56436
66337
76337
86436
96436
106337
116337
126238
136139
146139
156040
166040
176040
186040
196040
206040
216139
226139
236238
246238
256337
266436
276535
286535
296535
306535

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

Columbia gets around 3.4 in of rain over 7.7 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 27% and peaks near 29% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
125
225
325
425
526
626
726
826
927
1027
1128
1228
1328
1429
1529
1629
1729
1829
1928
2028
2128
2227
2326
2426
2525
2625
2724
2824
2924
3024

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 38% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 23% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
11317243213
21518243112
31619243011
41819242910
5192024279
6212123269
7232223258
8252322247
9272321236
10282321226
11302420215
12322419214
13332419204
14352418203
15372417193
16382417193
17402316182
18422316182
19442315172
20452315161
21472214151
22492214151
23512113141
24532013131
25542013121
26581912110
27581912110
28601812100
2962181190
3063171190

Wind in September

Winds average 6 mph in September.

Across September, daily wind ranges from about 6 mph on the calmest days to 7 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202530
Wind speed (mph)Feels
16calm
26calm
36calm
46calm
56calm
66calm
76calm
86calm
96calm
106calm
116calm
126calm
136calm
146calm
156calm
166calm
176calm
186calm
196calm
206calm
216calm
226calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm

Sunrise & sunset in September

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 54 min at the start of September to 11 h 36 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 78 minutes over September. Sunrise moves from 5:42 AM to 6:09 AM, and sunset from 6:36 PM to 5:48 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.95:426:36
212.85:436:34
312.85:446:33
412.85:456:31
512.75:466:29
612.75:476:28
712.65:486:26
812.65:496:24
912.65:506:23
1012.55:516:21
1112.55:526:19
1212.45:526:18
1312.45:536:16
1412.35:546:14
1512.35:556:13
1612.25:566:11
1712.25:576:09
1812.25:586:08
1912.15:596:06
2012.16:006:04
2112.06:016:03
2212.06:026:01
2311.96:035:59
2411.96:045:58
2511.96:055:56
2611.86:065:54
2711.86:075:53
2811.76:075:51
2911.76:085:50
3011.66:095:48

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 4.82 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.94 kWh/m² to a high of 6.44 kWh/m² in July across the year — September's 4.82 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.3Bright
25.3Bright
35.3Bright
45.2Bright
55.2Bright
65.2Bright
75.1Bright
85.1Bright
95.0Bright
105.0Bright
115.0Bright
124.9Bright
134.9Bright
144.8Bright
154.8Bright
164.7Bright
174.7Bright
184.7Bright
194.6Bright
204.6Bright
214.6Bright
224.5Bright
234.5Bright
244.5Bright
254.4Bright
264.4Bright
274.4Bright
284.3Bright
294.3Bright
304.3Bright
Planning a trip in September

Is September a good time to visit Columbia?

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

7.1
Sightseeing
1st-best month of the year
6.8
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Columbia in September

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

In September, Columbia sees daytime highs around 79°F and nights near 59°F. Worth packing: light clothes and sun protection. About 8 days see rain.

light clothessun protection

UV index in Columbia in September

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in September peaks around 7 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Columbia peaks around June 21 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 23 at about 2 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJun 21UV 10Dec 23UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr7High
May7Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep7High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Columbia 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 Columbia is worst in July — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.4× the cleanest month (November, 7 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1616 µg/m³Nov 117 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb11Good
Mar12Good
Apr10Good
May13Moderate
Jun14Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct7Good
Nov7Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Columbia?

Columbia sits at 39.0°N, 92.3°W, 705 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Jefferson City, 27 mi away.

Topography around Columbia

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Columbia.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Columbia has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 220 ft around an average of 728 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 387 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 640 ft.

The land around Columbia is covered by trees (47%) and artificial surfaces (35%) within 2 miles, trees (52%) and grassland (30%) within 10 miles, and trees (41%), cropland (32%) and grassland (25%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
220 ft
10 miles
387 ft
50 miles
640 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
September weather nearby: Jefferson City 27 mi · Sedalia 51 mi · Hannibal 74 mi · Rolla 76 mi · Warrensburg 76 mi · Wentzville 80 mi · Quincy 84 mi · Fort Leonard Wood 86 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 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 Columbia (38.9517°, -92.3341°, elevation 705 ft), 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).