Seoul weather in September
September in Seoul: hot, rainy, with muggy air — a great time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#5 of 12 months in Seoul · #868 of 1413 destinations to visit in September · comfort 75/100 (tier B)
- Days
- 28°C
- Nights
- 19°C
- Wet days
- 9
- Sun
- 8.2 h
- Humidity
- 79%
- Daylight
- 12 h

What September is like in Seoul
The heat breaks, and Chuseok (movable, September or October) closes the city as families travel to their ancestral homes.
holidayclosedharvest
confidence: high
Traveller notes on Seoul in September
Regulars describe typhoon risk this month as genuinely random rather than a serious, consistent threat - even when a significant one is forecast, the actual disruption typically runs two to three days rather than derailing a whole trip, and August is named as the more typhoon-prone month by comparison. Our row backs a still-warm, humid read, 27.5C reading as a hot 30C at 79 percent humidity, over 18.7C nights, with a real 148.2mm of rain across 9.1 days. Regulars call the back half of the month into early October one of the best overall windows of the year, pleasant and not too hot. Summer clothes plus a light jacket for cooler evenings or rural areas is the standard advice. The sea sits at 25.8C. The record: 8.2 hours of sun, a 12.6 kph wind and AQI 73.
Other months in Seoul
August is the hottest month here and regulars measure it in minutes: ten outside and you are sweating. Our row gives 31.2C reading as 36C at 83 percent humidity over 24.2C nights. The jangma has usually finished by the end of July, so this is not everyday rain - but it is the wettest month we hold for the city at 243.6mm across 14.5 days, which means it arrives hard when it comes. Typhoon season overlaps and nobody can schedule one; the board's wry consolation is that a typhoon at least breaks the heat for a day or two. Anything outdoors belongs to early morning or after dark. The record: 8.6 hours of sun, a 28.4C sea and AQI 93.
June here is two months in one and regulars date the join: the first half is hot by day, cooler at night and mostly dry, and around the fourth week the jangma arrives and turns it wet and sticky. Our 115.7mm across 8.9 days is that shape, not an evenly damp month - most of it falls in the last week or so. Before then the numbers are kind: 28.5C reading as 30C at 75 percent humidity, nights at 19.4C, and 14.7 hours of daylight. Anyone with a choice inside the month should take the first fortnight; anyone arriving late should expect heavy showers rather than all-day rain. The record: 10 hours of sun, a 22.6C sea and AQI 86.
May in Seoul is the month that changes under you: regulars say the first week still wants a light jacket or a cardigan, and by the last week you rarely need more than a t-shirt. Their figures - highs of 20 to 25C, lows of 13 to 16C - bracket our row's 24.2C and 13.7C. The standing advice is layers, because the drop in the early morning and again in the evening is the part visitors get wrong, and the jacket they recommend is one that will also shed rain. That last point is the one our row sharpens: 105.2mm falls in May across 8.1 days, more than the spring reputation suggests, and it arrives well before the proper summer monsoon. The record: humidity 71 percent, 10 hours of sun and AQI 86.
Seoul forum threads describe January as the coldest month of the year, typically ranging from about -6C to 3C but with posters warning that cold Siberian winds can push it down toward -20C on the harshest days, and that it can feel bitterly cold even under clear sun. Snow is a real possibility through the month, though whether a given trip sees actual snowfall was described as largely down to luck. The consistent advice across threads was serious winter gear - a proper coat, thick scarf, gloves and warm footwear - after which posters were clear that sightseeing stays fully doable, helped along by Seoul's extensive indoor museums and shopping options for the coldest stretches.
Year-round notes are on Seoul's overview. Add your own note from Seoul's card on the map.
Seoul climate normals — September
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Seoul 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 crowdsChuseok, Chuseok in South Korea, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Seoul'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 weatherSeoul's best weather comes in April, May and October — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Seoul in September
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Hazard
Typhoon risk
1 Aug – 30 Sep · usuallyTyphoon seasonLate summer systems track up from the south; most weaken before Seoul, but one a year is enough to stop the trains and flood the Han riverside parks. Source ↗
- Holiday
Chuseok
24–26 SepHarvestClosuresCrowdedThe harvest holiday empties the city as families travel home. Small restaurants close for three days, the roads out are solid, and the palaces are quiet and free. Source ↗
Where is Seoul?
Seoul in September — FAQ
- Is September a good time to visit Seoul?
- September in Seoul: hot, rainy, with muggy air — a great time to visit. It ranks #5 of 12 months for Seoul on SeasonMap's comfort score (75/100).
- What is the weather like in Seoul in September?
- In September, Seoul averages a daily high of 27.5°C and a low of 18.7°C, with about 148.2 mm of rain over roughly 9.1 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Seoul in September?
- Seoul has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 73 in September.