Moorhead weather in September

In September, Moorhead sees average daytime highs of 70°F and overnight lows near 49°F, with 2.9 in of rain across 8.2 wet days and about 12.4 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 76°F in the first days to 65°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 39% of the time in September, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 12 min at the start of September to 11 h 30 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, September is Moorhead's 3rd-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Moorhead's year-round climate.

Daytime high
70°
4th warmest
Overnight low
49°
9th coldest
Rainfall
2.9 in
8.2 wet days
Daylight
12 h 18 min
6:11 AM – 6:31 PM
Cloud cover
51%
3rd clearest
Wind
9 mph
4th windiest
Solar energy
4.14 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.9
out of 10

Moorhead is city in Clay County, Minnesota, USA.

Density
728/km²
people per km²
Founded
1871

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 76°F in the first days to 65°F by the end.

A typical September day in Moorhead reaches about 70°F in the afternoon and slips back to 49°F overnight — a 21°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 58°F and 82°F. Set against its neighbours, September runs about 9°F cooler than August and about 15°F warmer than October.

20°40°60°80°151015202530
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
17655
27655
37654
47554
57554
67453
77453
87352
97352
107351
117251
127251
137150
147150
157049
167049
176949
186948
196948
206847
216847
226746
236746
246646
256645
266545
276544
286544
296443
306443

How September really feels in Moorhead

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.

Moorhead weather by month

How September compares with the rest of the year at a glance. September is the 4th-warmest and 5th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan19° / 0.84.84.98.80.0
Feb23° / 0.74.64.4100.0
Mar37° / 20°1.46.2411.60.2
Apr53° / 33°2.17.92.213.33.2
May67° / 46°3.511.40.114.85.9
Jun76° / 57°4.312.2015.66.4
Jul81° / 61°3.710.1015.36.7
Aug79° / 58°3.28.90147.1
Sep70° / 49°2.98.2012.46.9
Oct55° / 36°2.47.9110.63.7
Nov38° / 22°1.15.43.49.20.2
Dec24° / 0.95.55.88.40.0

Cloud cover in September

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 39% of the time in September.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 17% of September, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 44%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16535
26535
36337
46337
56139
66139
76040
85842
95743
105644
115644
125545
135446
145446
155347
165347
175347
185347
195446
205446
215446
225446
235446
245446
255545
265446
275446
285446
295446
305347

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

Moorhead gets around 2.9 in of rain over 8.2 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 28% and peaks near 29% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
128
228
328
427
527
627
726
826
926
1026
1127
1227
1327
1428
1528
1628
1729
1829
1929
2029
2129
2229
2328
2428
2528
2627
2727
2827
2926
3026

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 73% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
149231991
251221881
352221781
454221671
557211561
658211551
760201451
862201341
963191341
1065191240
1167181230
1268181130
1370171030
1472161020
157415920
167514920
177614820
187813720
198012620
208111620
218310520
228510410
23879310
24888310
25907210
26907210
27916210
28926110
29945100
30945100

Wind in September

Winds average 9 mph in September.

Across September, daily wind ranges from about 8 mph on the calmest days to 9 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202530
Wind speed (mph)Feels
18light breeze
28light breeze
38light breeze
48light breeze
58light breeze
68light breeze
78light breeze
88light breeze
99light breeze
109light breeze
119light breeze
129light breeze
139light breeze
149light breeze
159light breeze
169light breeze
179light breeze
189light breeze
199light breeze
209light breeze
219light breeze
229light breeze
239light breeze
249light breeze
259light breeze
269light breeze
279light breeze
289light breeze
299light breeze
309light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in September

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 12 min at the start of September to 11 h 30 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 102 minutes over September. Sunrise moves from 5:51 AM to 6:31 AM, and sunset from 7:02 PM to 6:02 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.25:517:02
213.15:537:00
313.15:546:58
413.05:556:56
513.05:576:54
612.95:586:52
712.85:596:50
812.86:016:48
912.76:026:46
1012.76:036:44
1112.66:056:42
1212.66:066:40
1312.56:076:38
1412.46:096:35
1512.46:106:33
1612.36:116:31
1712.36:136:29
1812.26:146:27
1912.26:166:25
2012.16:176:23
2112.06:186:21
2212.06:206:19
2311.96:216:17
2411.96:226:15
2511.86:246:13
2611.86:256:10
2711.76:266:08
2811.66:286:06
2911.66:296:04
3011.56:316:02

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 4.14 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.31 kWh/m² to a high of 6.38 kWh/m² in July across the year — September's 4.14 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

024151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.9Bright
24.9Bright
34.8Bright
44.8Bright
54.7Bright
64.6Bright
74.6Bright
84.5Bright
94.5Bright
104.4Bright
114.3Bright
124.3Bright
134.2Bright
144.2Bright
154.1Bright
164.1Bright
174.0Bright
184.0Moderate
193.9Moderate
203.9Moderate
213.8Moderate
223.8Moderate
233.8Moderate
243.7Moderate
253.7Moderate
263.6Moderate
273.6Moderate
283.5Moderate
293.5Moderate
303.4Moderate
Planning a trip in September

Hazard calendar for Moorhead

In seasonPeak

In September, Moorhead sits inside its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Moorhead's rainy season runs April–October, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is September a good time to visit Moorhead?

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

6.9
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
4.2
Beach & pool
4th-best month of the year

September is a reasonable time to visit Moorhead for sightseeing.

What to pack for Moorhead in September

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

In September, Moorhead sees daytime highs around 70°F and nights near 49°F. Worth packing: rain gear. About 8 days see rain.

rain gear

UV index in Moorhead in September

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in September peaks around 5 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Moorhead peaks around June 18 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 11 at about 1 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 18UV 8Jan 11UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan1Low
Feb2Low
Mar3Moderate
Apr4Moderate
May6High
Jun9Very high
Jul7Very high
Aug7High
Sep5Moderate
Oct4Moderate
Nov2Low
Dec1Low

Air quality in Moorhead 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 Moorhead is worst in August — around 15 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.6× the cleanest month (October, 6 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodModerateGoodAug 1215 µg/m³Oct 206 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb12Good
Mar14Moderate
Apr12Good
May11Good
Jun10Good
Jul14Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct6Good
Nov7Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Moorhead?

Moorhead sits at 46.9°N, 96.8°W, 906 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Fargo, 1.2 mi away.

Topography around Moorhead

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Moorhead has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 72 ft around an average of 906 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 121 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 837 ft.

The land around Moorhead is covered by artificial surfaces (41%) and trees (34%) within 2 miles, cropland (65%) within 10 miles, and cropland (77%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
72 ft
10 miles
121 ft
50 miles
837 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
September weather nearby: Fargo 1.2 mi · West Fargo 6.2 mi · Grand Forks 74 mi · Jamestown 91 mi · Aberdeen 127 mi · Watertown 137 mi · Willmar 147 mi · Sartell 150 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 Moorhead (46.8739°, -96.7695°, elevation 906 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).