Franz Josef weather in September

New Zealand

Franz Josef, New Zealand
Photo: Tim O'Farrell · Pexels

September in Franz Josef: cold, soaked, with clean air — a gamble, with 17 rainy days.

#10 of 12 months in Franz Josef · #1055 of 1383 destinations to visit in September · comfort 63/100 (tier C)

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Traveller notes on Franz Josef in September

Other months in Franz Josef

Franz Josef's forum is candid that January's warm, long days come with the West Coast's notoriously dramatic weather — brilliant sunshine one minute, monsoon-style downpours the next. Regulars actually rate winter (July/August) as more settled for clear, flyable glacier days, even though January is warmer and busier.
Tripadvisor community · January · 2 days ago · Read more on Tripadvisor

Add your own note from Franz Josef's card on the map.

Franz Josef climate normals — September

Daytime high11°C / 52°F🧥 cold
Nighttime low5°C / 42°F
Feels like (high)9°C / 48°F
Sea temperature12°C / 54°F🥶 cold sea
Rainfall404 mm / 15.9 in⛈ soaked
Rainy days17 days
Humidity84%💦 very humid
Dew point6°C / 42°F
Sunshine8.2 h/day
Daylight11.8 h
Wind18 km/h / 11 mph
Snowfall12.9 cm / 5.1 in
Air quality (US AQI)37🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Franz Josef in September

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

BusyTerm 3 (Sept/Oct) break in New Zealand, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Franz Josef's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Fair weatherFranz Josef's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.

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What's on in Franz Josef in September

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Hazard

    Highway closures in heavy rain

    1 Jan – 31 DecFlood seasonClosures

    There is one road in and one road out, and a big West Coast rain event closes it north or south of the village a few times a year. Check the highway before you commit to a night here. Source ↗

  • Season

    Whitebait season

    1 Sep – 30 OctForaging season

    Whitebaiting runs 1 September to 30 October, and every river mouth on the coast grows a line of stands and huts for two months. The patties on the pub menu are the point of it. Source ↗

What's on around the world in September

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Franz Josef — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Franz Josef?

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Franz Josef in September — FAQ

Is September a good time to visit Franz Josef?
September in Franz Josef: cold, soaked, with clean air — a gamble, with 17 rainy days. It ranks #10 of 12 months for Franz Josef on SeasonMap's comfort score (63/100).
What is the weather like in Franz Josef in September?
In September, Franz Josef averages a daily high of 11.2°C and a low of 5.3°C, with about 403.6 mm of rain over roughly 17 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Franz Josef in September?
Franz Josef has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 37 in September.
Does it snow in Franz Josef in September?
Franz Josef sees roughly 12.9 cm of snowfall in September.

Other months in Franz Josef

Compare Franz Josef in September

Warmer or cooler than Franz Josef in September

Similar destinations in OceaniaSeptember

Within 300 km: Aoraki Mount Cook's Milky Way season around 15 Apr – 15 Sep, and Lake Tekapo's Milky Way season around 15 Apr – 15 Sep.