Dana Point weather in September

In September, Dana Point sees average daytime highs of 74°F and overnight lows near 65°F, with 0.1 in of rain across 0.6 wet days and about 12.2 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 74°F through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 83% of the time in September, and the air most often feels humid.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 42 min at the start of September to 11 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, September is Dana Point's 2nd-clearest and 10th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Dana Point's year-round climate.

Daytime high
74°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
65°
11th coldest
Rainfall
0.1 in
0.6 wet days
Daylight
12 h 12 min
5:39 AM – 5:51 PM
Cloud cover
18%
2nd clearest
Wind
4 mph
10th windiest
Solar energy
6.05 kWh/m²
Travel score
9.3
out of 10

Dana Point is city in Orange County, California, United States.

Density
448/km²
people per km²
Founded
1989

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 74°F through the month.

A typical September day in Dana Point reaches about 74°F in the afternoon and slips back to 65°F overnight — a 10°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 68°F and 80°F. Set against its neighbours, September runs on par with August and about 3°F warmer than October.

60°70°80°151015202530
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
17566
27566
37566
47566
57566
67565
77565
87565
97465
107465
117465
127465
137465
147465
157465
167464
177464
187464
197464
207464
217464
227464
237464
247464
257464
267464
277464
287464
297364
307363

Dana Point weather by month

How September compares with the rest of the year at a glance. September is the 2nd-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan62° / 51°2.65.5106.2
Feb62° / 52°3.16.310.85.9
Mar63° / 53°1.85.711.76.3
Apr64° / 55°0.82.912.87.2
May66° / 58°0.31.713.77.7
Jun69° / 61°0.10.414.28.5
Jul73° / 64°0.10.4149.2
Aug75° / 66°0.00.213.29.6
Sep74° / 65°0.10.612.29.3
Oct71° / 61°0.6211.28.5
Nov67° / 56°0.82.810.37.7
Dec62° / 51°1.94.89.86.4

Cloud cover in September

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 83% of the time in September.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 8% of September, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 9%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
1928
2928
3928
4928
5928
6928
7928
8928
9928
10928
11928
12928
13919
14919
15919
16919
17919
18919
19919
20919
21919
22919
239010
249010
259010
269010
279010
288911
298911
308911

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

Dana Point gets around 0.1 in of rain over 0.6 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 2% and peaks near 3% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
11
21
31
41
51
61
71
81
91
101
112
122
132
142
152
162
172
182
192
202
213
223
233
243
253
263
273
283
293
303

Humidity in September

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, September lands in the humid band about 48% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 18% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
102054233
202152243
302350243
402449243
502548242
602647242
712847232
812946232
913046222
1013146211
1113246201
1213247191
1313347181
1413447171
1523447170
1623447160
1723448150
1823448150
1923449140
2033449140
2133450140
2233351130
2343350130
2443450130
2553449120
2653448120
2763547110
2873646110
2983745100
3093844100

Wind in September

Winds average 4 mph in September.

Across September, daily wind ranges from about 4 mph on the calmest days to 5 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202530
Wind speed (mph)Feels
14calm
24calm
34calm
44calm
54calm
64calm
74calm
84calm
94calm
104calm
114calm
124calm
134calm
144calm
154calm
164calm
174calm
184calm
194calm
205calm
215calm
225calm
235calm
245calm
255calm
265calm
275calm
285calm
295calm
305calm

Sunrise & sunset in September

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 42 min at the start of September to 11 h 42 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 60 minutes over September. Sunrise moves from 5:29 AM to 5:49 AM, and sunset from 6:12 PM to 5:31 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.75:296:12
212.75:296:11
312.75:306:10
412.65:316:08
512.65:316:07
612.65:326:05
712.55:336:04
812.55:336:03
912.55:346:01
1012.45:356:00
1112.45:365:58
1212.35:365:57
1312.35:375:56
1412.35:385:54
1512.25:385:53
1612.25:395:51
1712.25:405:50
1812.15:405:48
1912.15:415:47
2012.15:425:45
2112.05:425:44
2212.05:435:43
2312.05:445:41
2411.95:455:40
2511.95:455:38
2611.85:465:37
2711.85:475:36
2811.85:475:34
2911.75:485:33
3011.75:495:31

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 6.05 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3 kWh/m² to a high of 7.72 kWh/m² in June across the year — September's 6.05 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.7Intense
26.6Intense
36.6Intense
46.5Intense
56.5Intense
66.5Intense
76.4Intense
86.4Intense
96.3Intense
106.3Intense
116.3Intense
126.2Intense
136.2Intense
146.1Intense
156.1Intense
166.0Intense
176.0Bright
186.0Bright
195.9Bright
205.9Bright
215.8Bright
225.8Bright
235.7Bright
245.7Bright
255.6Bright
265.6Bright
275.5Bright
285.5Bright
295.5Bright
305.4Bright
Planning a trip in September

Is September a good time to visit Dana Point?

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

9.3
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
7.4
Beach & pool
2nd-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Dana Point in September

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

In September, Dana Point sees daytime highs around 74°F and nights near 65°F. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes.

sun protectionlight clothes

Sea temperature near Dana Point in September

The nearest coast averages about 70°F 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 August at about 70°F and coldest in January near 59°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 6 to Oct 6 — about 3.1 months when the water holds above 68°F.

60°65°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan59Cool
Feb59Cool
Mar60Cool
Apr61Cool
May63Cool
Jun66Cool
Jul69Refreshing
Aug70Refreshing
Sep70Refreshing
Oct67Cool
Nov64Cool
Dec61Cool

UV index in Dana Point in September

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in September peaks around 8 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Dana Point peaks around June 23 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 16 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 11 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJun 23UV 10Dec 16UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan4Moderate
Feb5Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr8Very high
May8Very high
Jun11Extreme
Jul10Extreme
Aug10Extreme
Sep8Very high
Oct6High
Nov3Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Dana Point 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 Dana Point is worst in September — around 49 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 4.0× the cleanest month (May, 12 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorModerateSep 1447 µg/m³May 1713 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan18Moderate
Feb19Moderate
Mar19Moderate
Apr17Moderate
May12Moderate
Jun17Moderate
Jul19Moderate
Aug32Moderate
Sep49Poor
Oct21Moderate
Nov21Moderate
Dec18Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Dana Point?

Dana Point sits at 33.5°N, 117.7°W, 144 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is San Juan Capistrano, 3.1 mi away.

Topography around Dana Point

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Dana Point has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 581 ft around an average of 105 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,115 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 5,912 ft.

The land around Dana Point is covered by water (43%) and artificial surfaces (40%) within 2 miles, water (51%) within 10 miles, and water (39%) and artificial surfaces (24%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
581 ft
10 miles
1,115 ft
50 miles
5,912 ft
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
September weather nearby: San Juan Capistrano 3.1 mi · Laguna Niguel 3.7 mi · San Clemente 5.6 mi · Aliso Viejo 6.8 mi · Laguna Beach 6.8 mi · Ladera Ranch 8.1 mi · Mission Viejo 9.3 mi · Laguna Woods 9.9 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 Dana Point (33.467°, -117.6981°, elevation 144 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. 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).