Reno weather in September
September in Reno: warm, dry, with clean air — one of the best months to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#2 of 12 months in Reno · #193 of 1413 destinations to visit in September · comfort 91/100 (tier S)
- Days
- 29°C
- Nights
- 11°C
- Wet days
- 2
- Sun
- 11.3 h
- Humidity
- 39%
- Daylight
- 12 h
Traveller notes on Reno in September
Forum regulars describe a typical September as lows in the mid-40sF and highs in the low 80sF, sunny with little rain - but they're quick to add the month is a real wildcard, with year-to-year swings from upper-80s/90s heat to actual snow flurries as the seasons turn over. A roughly 40-degree day-to-night temperature drop is treated as completely normal, so a puffy or lightweight jacket for evenings is standard advice alongside daytime layers. The other September-specific consideration regulars raise: California wildfire smoke can drift into the Reno valley later in the month, so some suggest visiting in early June (before fire season) as the safer alternative if that's a concern.
Other months in Reno
Forum posters cite Reno's average March high around 58F with an average low around 34F, only a few degrees warmer than typical February, and describe conditions as capable of rain, snow, or sun depending on cloud cover - sunny but cold on a clear day. Posters flag March as having brought some of the heaviest precipitation of the year in recent years, with genuinely wide swings possible: one visitor hit heavy snow March 19-21, while other years saw fairly typical spring weather during the same window. Posters generally describe roads as clear and dry most years, though warn that an incoming storm could still require tire chains for anyone driving up toward Tahoe. Posters generally recommend flexible plans and a range of clothing options for a March visit to Reno.
Add your own note from Reno's card on the map.
Reno climate normals — September
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Reno 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.
Peak crowdsBurning Man week, Great Reno Balloon Race, Summer break in United States(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Reno'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).
Best weatherReno's best weather comes in May, June and September — separate windows, not one continuous season.
September includes Burning Man week.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Reno in September
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Hazard
Wildfire smoke
1 Jul – 30 Sep · usuallySmoke seasonSmoke from fires in the northern Sierra and inland California settles into the Truckee Meadows and can sit for a week, hiding the mountains from downtown. Some summers barely register; others are unbreathable. Source ↗
- Festival
Burning Man week
24 Aug – 8 Sep · usuallyArts festivalCrowdedBook earlyReno is the gateway to Black Rock City, and for the week ending on Labor Day the airport, the hire cars and every hardware store in town are working to a different clock. Exodus traffic backs up US-447 for hours. Source ↗
- Festival
Great Reno Balloon Race
10–13 SepSporting eventCrowdedFour mornings of mass ascensions from Rancho San Rafael Park, free to watch, starting with a dawn patrol launch in the dark. It is over by mid-morning, so it costs you a lie-in rather than a day. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Reno — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Reno?
Reno in September — FAQ
- Is September a good time to visit Reno?
- September in Reno: warm, dry, with clean air — one of the best months to visit. It ranks #2 of 12 months for Reno on SeasonMap's comfort score (91/100).
- What is the weather like in Reno in September?
- In September, Reno averages a daily high of 28.5°C and a low of 10.8°C, with about 8.5 mm of rain over roughly 1.7 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Reno in September?
- Reno has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 40 in September.
Within 300 km: South Lake Tahoe's Hope Valley aspens around 25 Sep – 15 Oct, and Sacramento's Farm-to-Fork Festival around 15–30 Sep.