Your September weather guide
HotWeather in Costa del Sol in September
September is a good choice for the Costa del Sol if you want warm days without relying on intense heat. Average highs of 26°C and night-time lows of 19°C suit time outdoors and fairly mild evenings, while about 4 rainy days leave room for some disruption. The main catch is the sea: it can feel bracing rather than comfortably warm. Go for warmth and outdoor relaxation, but keep swimming expectations realistic.
Long-term climate averages for Malaga, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Costa del Sol, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Malaga.
- Average daytime high
- 25.6°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 29°C
- Average night-time low
- 18.9°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 17°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +7.0°C
- London averages 18.6°C in September
- Sea temperature
- 21.4°C
- year to year: 20°C to 23°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 8.3h
- 68% of 12.2 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 4
- 27 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 71%
- Days over 25°C
- 60%
- 5% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 36.7°C
- 2016-09-05
- Record low 1991-2020
- 10.4°C
- 1994-09-25
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 48 min
- 1639 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How September compares
September is the 4th warmest month of the year in Costa del Sol. Within Spain it is 48th of 87 (Spain in September). Against London's average high of 18.6°C in September, Costa del Sol is 7.0°C warmer by day and 7.7°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in September
The typical September day in Costa del Sol peaks at 25.6°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 28.5°C or more. About 60% of days top 25°C and 1 in 20 pass 30°C. Nights average 18.9°C; one night in ten drops to 16.5°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest September day here reached 36.7°C (2016-09-05) and the coldest night 10.4°C (1994-09-25).
Rain in September
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 4 days with 1 mm or more, 27 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest September was 2008 with 107 mm, the driest 2011 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 71%.
Sea temperature in September
The sea averages 21.4°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 20.2°C to 22.6°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (23.0°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 8.3 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 12.2 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:00 and sets about 20:26 local time in mid-September. Average cloud cover is 32%.
Is September a good time to visit Costa del Sol?
Yes - it is one of the better months: hot days, manageable rain and long sunny days. The best months for Costa del Sol on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Warm enough for summer clothes, but not constant heat
September suits travellers who want warmth without needing every day to be very hot. Around 60% of days reach 25°C, so summer clothes should get plenty of use, though cooler days are part of the picture. Midday is the time to seek shade if you find heat tiring; keep more active plans for when it feels comfortable. Evenings are generally mild, but the coldest nights can fall to 16.5°C or below, making a light jumper useful for sitting outside. Pack mainly light clothing rather than treating this as an autumn break at home, with a warmer layer ready for a cooler evening.
Plenty of sunshine, but the sea is less warm
With about 8.3 hours of sunshine a day, September offers plenty of scope for outdoor plans, though sunshine is not guaranteed throughout the day. Rain is a possibility rather than the dominant feature, so keep your plans flexible and bring a light waterproof instead of assuming every day will stay dry. Swimming needs a separate judgement from the air temperature: the sea averages 21.4°C, which is bracing rather than reliably comfortable. Its year-to-year range of 20°C to 23°C means your experience may differ between trips. If you enjoy cooler water, swimming could still be appealing; if you prefer a warm sea, time beside the water may suit you better than long swims.
A little perspective
Costa del Sol through the year
September is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14.7°C | 8.7°C | 15.1°C | 5.2 | 61 | 8 | 0% |
| February | 15.3°C | 9.0°C | 14.8°C | 6.0 | 52 | 7 | 0% |
| March | 17.0°C | 10.4°C | 15.1°C | 6.4 | 58 | 7 | 1% |
| April | 18.7°C | 12.0°C | 15.8°C | 7.4 | 44 | 7 | 1% |
| May | 21.8°C | 14.7°C | 17.2°C | 8.8 | 26 | 5 | 14% |
| Junebest | 25.7°C | 18.2°C | 19.3°C | 11.5 | 8 | 1 | 60% |
| Julybest | 28.7°C | 20.9°C | 21.6°C | 12.8 | 1 | 0 | 93% |
| Augustbest | 28.9°C | 21.5°C | 23.0°C | 11.1 | 4 | 1 | 95% |
| SeptemberSelected | 25.6°C | 18.9°C | 21.4°C | 8.3 | 27 | 4 | 60% |
| October | 21.9°C | 15.7°C | 19.3°C | 6.1 | 62 | 7 | 12% |
| November | 17.8°C | 12.1°C | 17.2°C | 5.4 | 75 | 7 | 1% |
| December | 15.5°C | 10.0°C | 15.9°C | 4.7 | 77 | 8 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in September
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Portugal · 26°C by day · sea 21°C
Algarve
Croatia · 24°C by day · sea 22°C
Split
Italy · 26°C by day · sea 24°C
Sardinia
Mauritius · 26°C by day · sea 24°C
Flic en Flac
Turkey · 24°C by day · sea 23°C
Istanbul
A little more detail
Costa del Sol in September FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Costa del Sol hot in September?
Costa del Sol is hot in September: the average daytime high is 25.6°C and nights average 18.9°C. About 60% of September days reach 25°C or more.
Can you swim in the sea in Costa del Sol in September?
The sea around Costa del Sol averages 21.4°C in September, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 20°C to 23°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Costa del Sol in September?
Costa del Sol sees about 4 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 27 mm of rain in a typical September. The wettest September between 1991 and 2020 was 2008 (107 mm) and the driest was 2011 (0 mm).
How sunny is Costa del Sol in September?
Costa del Sol gets around 8.3 hours of sunshine a day in September out of 12.2 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Costa del Sol compare with the UK in September?
Costa del Sol is on average 7.0°C warmer than London by day in September (25.6°C against 18.6°C).
What is the hottest September on record in Costa del Sol?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest September day in Costa del Sol reached 36.7°C on 2016-09-05, and the coldest night dropped to 10.4°C on 1994-09-25.
How much warmer is it than London in September?
The average daytime high is 25.6°C, compared with 18.6°C in London - a difference of 7°C. That is a noticeable step up in warmth for a UK traveller, making light clothing a more useful starting point for daytime plans.
Does September often reach 30°C?
No. About 5% of days reach 30°C, so that level of heat is possible but not typical. Expect warm conditions rather than persistent intense heat, while still allowing for hotter days when shade and a slower pace will help.
Is September the best month for hot weather?
September is a warm option, but July, August and June rate more highly overall. It suits travellers happy with warmth rather than those prioritising the hottest conditions. The bracing sea is another reason to weigh swimming comfort separately from daytime heat.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Málaga (Malaga). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 3 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C