Whitby weather in September
September in Whitby: cool, a little rain, with clean air — a good time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#6 of 12 months in Whitby · #975 of 1413 destinations to visit in September · comfort 69/100 (tier C)
- Days
- 17°C
- Nights
- 12°C
- Wet days
- 12
- Sun
- 8.3 h
- Humidity
- 82%
- Daylight
- 13 h

Traveller notes on Whitby in September
Notes from nearby Windermere (149 km away)
Whitby doesn't have its own notes for September yet — these are about Windermere, close enough to share the season.
Windermere-forum threads on mid-September weather describe daytime readings anywhere from the mid-teens to low-20s Celsius, a real spread depending on the week and year, with a genuine chill in the morning and evening regardless of how warm the afternoon runs. Posters are consistent the Lake District's climate stays changeable and unpredictable through September, real rain likely at some point during any multi-day stay. Regulars describe early September as sometimes delivering a run of still, sunny days, though nothing is guaranteed and posters call it genuinely pot luck year to year. September and October are quieter, often better months than peak summer for anyone flexible, crowds noticeably thinner around the lake. Layering remains the standing advice, temperatures shifting hour to hour and place to place. The record: 16.3C days feeling like 15C, 8.7C nights, an extraordinarily high 176mm across nearly 17 days and 86 percent humidity.
Other months in Whitby
Forum posters describe February in Whitby as a bit chilly, overcast and foggy, though still enjoyable for a visit. Posters consistently note the town stays quieter than summer but only a little cooler, with most shops remaining open and plenty to do despite the reduced crowds. Posters describe February's daylight as steadily lengthening through the month, with dusk arriving around 5pm early on and pushing later as the month progresses. Posters generally recommend embracing the quieter, moodier coastal atmosphere as part of February's appeal rather than a drawback. Posters generally rate February as cool, gray and often foggy but genuinely pleasant for a low-key Whitby visit.
August is peak season in Whitby and the forum is emphatic: absolutely heaving, especially once the North Yorkshire school holidays start, with parking a nightmare and restaurant tables hard to come by. Most self-catering lets go by the whole week, Friday to Friday or Saturday to Saturday. On weather, the coastal caveat matters — a north-easterly off the sea can drop the temperature by as much as 8°C compared with inland, against an August average of only 18°C here and a sea at 15. One visitor reports 27°C days, so it does happen. The regulars' honest line is that Whitby is lovely and better outside peak season.
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Whitby climate normals — September
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Whitby 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.
BusyPeak summer on the harbour, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Whitby'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 weatherWhitby's best weather comes in May, July and August — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Whitby in September
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Holiday
Peak summer on the harbour
20 Jul – 1 SepSchool holidaysCrowdedBook earlyThe car parks are full by ten, the queue at the fish shops runs down Pier Road, and the 199 steps move at the pace of the slowest party on them. Early morning and after six are the town's own hours. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Whitby — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Whitby?
Whitby in September — FAQ
- Is September a good time to visit Whitby?
- September in Whitby: cool, a little rain, with clean air — a good time to visit. It ranks #6 of 12 months for Whitby on SeasonMap's comfort score (69/100).
- What is the weather like in Whitby in September?
- In September, Whitby averages a daily high of 17.3°C and a low of 11.5°C, with about 71.6 mm of rain over roughly 11.9 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Whitby in September?
- Whitby has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 38 in September.
Within 300 km: York's York Food and Drink Festival around 15–30 Sep, and Manchester's Manchester Pride around 20 Aug – 1 Sep.