Bulawayo weather in September

In September, Bulawayo sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 13°C, with 5 mm of rain across 1.4 wet days and about 11.9 hours of daylight. It is the 3rd-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 27°C in the first days to 29°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 77% of the time in September, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 36 min at the start of September to 12 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, September is Bulawayo's 3rd-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Bulawayo's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
3rd warmest
Overnight low
13°
5th coldest
Rainfall
5 mm
1.4 wet days
Daylight
11 h 54 min
6:03 AM – 5:57 PM
Cloud cover
21%
3rd clearest
Wind
14 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
6.38 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.8
out of 10

Bulawayo is city in Zimbabwe.

Density
390/km²
people per km²
Founded
1840

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

Temperature in September

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 27°C in the first days to 29°C by the end.

A typical September day in Bulawayo reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 13°C overnight — a 15°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 23°C and 32°C. Set against its neighbours, September runs about 4°C warmer than August and about 1°C cooler than October.

10°20°30°151015202530
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12711
22711
32711
42711
52712
62712
72712
82812
92812
102812
112812
122812
132813
142813
152813
162813
172913
182913
192913
202913
212914
222914
232914
242914
252914
262914
272914
282914
292914
302914

Bulawayo weather by month

How September compares with the rest of the year at a glance. September is the 3rd-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan27° / 17°13314.813.15.7
Feb27° / 17°11011.712.76.1
Mar27° / 16°659.512.16.8
Apr25° / 13°23411.68.1
May24° / 10°61.311.19.1
Jun22° / 40.810.88.8
Jul21° / 30.710.98.7
Aug25° / 10.211.39.3
Sep28° / 13°51.411.97.8
Oct30° / 15°235.612.56.1
Nov29° / 17°8712.7135.2
Dec27° / 17°1481713.25.4

Cloud cover in September

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 77% 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 11%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
1937
2937
3937
4937
5928
6928
7928
8919
9919
109010
119010
129010
138911
148812
158812
168812
178812
188812
198713
208614
218614
228614
238614
248713
258713
268614
278614
288614
298614
308614

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

Bulawayo gets around 5 mm of rain over 1.4 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 5% and peaks near 10% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
12
22
32
43
53
63
73
84
94
104
114
124
134
144
153
163
174
184
194
204
215
225
236
246
257
268
278
289
299
3010

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 98% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
110000
210000
310000
410000
59910
69910
79910
89910
99910
109910
119910
129910
139910
149910
159910
169910
179910
189910
199820
209820
219820
229730
239730
249730
259640
269550
279550
289460
299271
309271

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 14 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
2514light breeze
2614light breeze
2714light breeze
2814light breeze
2914light breeze
3014light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in September

DaylightNight

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

Days grow by about 36 minutes over September. Sunrise moves from 6:17 AM to 5:50 AM, and sunset from 5:53 PM to 6:00 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.66:175:53
211.66:175:53
311.66:165:54
411.76:155:54
511.76:145:54
611.76:135:54
711.76:125:55
811.76:115:55
911.76:105:55
1011.86:095:55
1111.86:085:56
1211.86:075:56
1311.86:065:56
1411.86:055:56
1511.96:045:56
1611.96:035:57
1711.96:025:57
1811.96:015:57
1911.96:015:57
2012.06:005:57
2112.05:595:58
2212.05:585:58
2312.05:575:58
2412.05:565:58
2512.15:555:59
2612.15:545:59
2712.15:535:59
2812.15:525:59
2912.15:516:00
3012.25:506:00

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 6.38 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.38 kWh/m² to a high of 6.86 kWh/m² in October across the year — September's 6.38 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.0Intense
26.1Intense
36.1Intense
46.1Intense
56.2Intense
66.2Intense
76.2Intense
86.3Intense
96.3Intense
106.3Intense
116.3Intense
126.3Intense
136.4Intense
146.4Intense
156.4Intense
166.4Intense
176.4Intense
186.5Intense
196.5Intense
206.5Intense
216.5Intense
226.5Intense
236.5Intense
246.5Intense
256.6Intense
266.6Intense
276.6Intense
286.6Intense
296.7Intense
306.7Intense
Planning a trip in September

Hazard calendar for Bulawayo

In seasonPeak

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

Bulawayo's rainy season runs November–February, 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 Bulawayo?

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

7.8
Sightseeing
6th-best month of the year
8.9
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Bulawayo in September

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

In September, Bulawayo sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 13°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection.

light clothessun protection

UV index in Bulawayo in September

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in September peaks around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Bulawayo peaks around January 18 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 20 at about 7 (high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highVery highExtremeJan 18UV 15Jun 20UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan16Extreme
Feb14Extreme
Mar14Extreme
Apr10Very high
May8Very high
Jun7High
Jul7Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep10Very high
Oct11Extreme
Nov14Extreme
Dec14Extreme

Air quality in Bulawayo 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 Bulawayo is worst in June — around 28 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.2× the cleanest month (January, 7 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJun 2228 µg/m³Jan 137 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb9Good
Mar11Good
Apr16Moderate
May23Moderate
Jun28Moderate
Jul27Moderate
Aug28Moderate
Sep27Moderate
Oct20Moderate
Nov12Moderate
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Bulawayo?

Bulawayo sits at 20.1°S, 28.6°E, 1,348 m above sea level, in Zimbabwe. The nearest listed city is Gwanda, 98 km away.

GwandaGweruZvishavaneShurugwiFrancistownTutumeRedcliffTonota

Topography around Bulawayo

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Bulawayo has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 60 m around an average of 1,343 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 261 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 624 m.

The land around Bulawayo is covered by artificial surfaces (50%) and trees (26%) within 3 km, shrubs (38%) and grassland (21%) within 16 km, and shrubs (59%) and trees (24%) within 80 km.

3 km
60 m
16 km
261 m
80 km
624 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaces
September weather nearby: Gwanda 98 km · Gweru 151 km · Zvishavane 156 km · Shurugwi 158 km · Francistown 159 km · Tutume 166 km · Redcliff 177 km · Tonota 185 km

Zimbabwe travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type D / G
220 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 56% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$3,021
2025
Happiness
3.3 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
25%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
6.8
per 100k, 2022
Road deaths
41.2
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Lower middle
World Bank
English
Very high
EF EPI 602
Religion
Apostolic Sect 40%Pentecostal 17%Protestant 14%none 8%

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 Bulawayo (-20.15°, 28.5833°, elevation 1,348 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. 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).