Climate - Malaysia

Index

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• Peninsular Malaysia - Kota Bharu, Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur
• Malaysian Borneo - Kuching, Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau
• Cyclones, mountains, El Niño
• Best Time
• What to pack

In Malaysia, an Asian state located just north of the equator, the climate is equatorial, ie hot, humid and rainy throughout the year.
Temperatures are high and stable, with a slight decrease between November and January, when highs generally drop to 29/31 °C (84/88 °F), at least in the north, and a slight increase (which, however, is felt because of the high humidity) between March and August, when highs hover around 32/33 °C (90/91 °F). The night temperatures fluctuate around 23/25 °C (73/77 °F) all year round and almost never drop below 20 °C (68 °F).
Rainfall is abundant and frequent throughout the year, in fact, it is difficult to find an area where it is lower than 2,000 millimeters (79 inches) per year, or a month when it is lower than 100 mm (4 in); however, it is possible to find periods when it is not too high, although they are not the same everywhere.
The rains are caused by the monsoon regime, however, being that Malaysia is near the Equator and surrounded by the sea, there is no real dry season. In addition, the rains, as is generally the case in tropical countries, are quite erratic from year to year.
However, the monsoons make precipitation more abundant and frequent in the areas directly exposed to these winds: between mid-October and January, the northeast monsoon prevails, affecting especially the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and the north-east coast of Borneo, while between June and September, it's the period of the southwest monsoon, which, in Malaysia, usually produces weaker effects.
It should be noted, however, that the tropical rains occur mainly in the form of intense downpours or thunderstorms, usually in the afternoon, so the sun shines on average for a few hours a day, at least in the morning, when the weather conditions are generally good. Generally, there are 1,800 hours of sunshine per year in the wettest areas and 2,500 in the least rainy ones.
The country is divided into two parts: Peninsular Malaysia, also called Western Malaysia, located in the Malay Peninsula, and Eastern Malaysia, or Malaysian Borneo, located on the island of Borneo.

1- Peninsular Malaysia

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The east coast of Peninsular Malaysia is directly affected by the northeast monsoon; here, from 2,500 to 3,000 mm (98 to 118 in) of rain fall per year. The rains are very abundant in November and December, when they even exceed 500 mm (20 in) per month. This unfavorable period can linger until January, especially in the central and southern part, and during some years, even in the norhern one.

Kota Bharu

In Kota Bharu, located in the far north, at 6 degrees north latitude, near the border with Thailand, November and December are clearly distinguishable as the worst months, in fact, they are characterized by torrential rains. The best period is from February to April, when rainfall often drops below 100 mm (4 in) per month (but not in all years), and February is the absolute best because it is a bit less hot. The rains gradually increase again by May, but as mentioned, there is a substantial increase only in November. This trend is also found in the nearby Redang and Perhentian archipelagos, where tourist facilities are often closed from November to January.
Here is the average precipitation in Kota Bharu.

In Kota Bharu, as in the rest of Malaysia, it's hot all year round, however, in this northernmost area, the period from December to February is slightly cooler.
The temperature hardly ever drops below 20 °C (68 °F), however, it dropped to 19.2 °C (66.6 °F) in January 1996 and to 17.8 °C (64 °F) in February 2014.
On the hottest days of the year, the temperature generally reaches 34/35 °C (93/95 °F) in April and May, but sometimes also in the following months until August. In May 2019, it reached 36 °C (97 °F).
Here are the average temperatures.

The sun in Kota Bharu is seen quite rarely in the wettest months, November and December, while it often shines in the least rainy period, from February to May.

In Kota Bharu, and in general in Malaysia, the sea is warm throughout the year, as can be seen in the following table.

Continuing south (see Kuala Terengganu), and therefore moving closer to the Equator, the trend remains similar, but the driest period from February to April becomes less noticeable, so there is no substantial difference from February to July, which therefore is the best period of the year. However, in this period too, it can rain, in fact the rainfall is still above 100 mm (4 in) per month. A similar trend is found more to the south, on the island of Tioman, where there is more or less the same amount of rainfall from February to September, although, after all, the best month is February here as well.



Along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, which overlooks the Strait of Malacca, the rains are a bit less abundant, in fact, they range from 1,800 to 2,500 mm (70 to 98 in) per year. Moreover, the rainfall pattern is substantially different: there is no peak between November and January, which are relatively dry months, especially in the north, since there are mountains in the interior that block the north-eastern winds, which as previously mentioned, prevail in this period.

Langkawi

In Langkawi, an island located a short distance from the coast, less than 110 mm (4.3 in) or fain fall from December to March, which therefore is the best period; in particular, January and February are quite dry, with about 50 mm (2 in) per month, which is lucky for a country so rainy. In Langkawi, it rains a lot from April to November, with a maximum between August and October, when rainfall exceeds 300 mm (12 in) per month, although it doesn't reach the peaks of the east coast. Here is the average precipitation.

In this area, it's hot even in the "winter" period, with highs around 31.5/32 °C (89 °F) in December and January, however, since in this period the wind blows from the interior, the humidity is slightly lower than in the rest of the year. From February to April the heat increases, and during the day the highest temperatures of the year are reached, sometimes even 37/38 °C (99/100 °F) in March and April.
After 2000, the temperature never dropped below 20 °C (68 °F), in fact, the extreme minimum was 21 °C (70 °F), recorded in February 2014.
Here are the average temperatures.

The sun in Langkawi often shines in the dry period, from January to March or April; in the rest of the year, despite the rains, all in all, it is seen quite often.

In Langkawi, as in the rest of Malaysia, the sea is warm all year round.

In George Town and on Penang Island, January and February are the best months, although they are not as dry as in Langkawi, since rainfall amounts to around 70 mm (2.8 in) per month. In December and March, rainfall exceeds 100 mm (4 in) per month, and from April to November 180 mm (7 in).
Further south, in Pangkor, even in January and February, about 150 mm (6 in) of rain fall per month, so the least rainy months here are June, July and August, however, there are no major differences with January and February.

Kuala Lumpur

The capital, Kuala Lumpur, is located further south, on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula, at 3 degrees north latitude. Here too, there is no clearly dry period as well, however, the least rainy period is from June to August, followed by January and February. Thunderstorms can erupt at any moment, as drivers (and spectators) of the Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix well know. Here is the average precipitation.

Furthermore, in a big city, the heat is more intense than elsewhere because of the so-called urban heat island effect. The temperature can reach 34/35 °C (93/95 °F) in all months of the year, although the hottest months are generally March, April and May. The temperature reached 37 °C (98.5 °F) in March 2019, April 1998 and April 2016.
At night, it never gets cold. Although in February 1977 the temperature dropped to 18 °C (64.5 °F), after 2000 it never dropped below 20 °C (68 °F).
Especially in August and September, the already polluted city can receive smoke from fires on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, which can shroud it in haze.
Here are the average temperatures.

The amount of sunshine in Kuala Lumpur is neither excellent nor bad; however, the least sunny period runs from September to December. In total, there are 2,200 hours of sunshine per year.

In the interior of Peninsular Malaysia too, in cities like Temerloh and Johor Bahru, the latter located just north of Singapore, the situation is similar, since the least rainy months are February, June and July, without there being a clearly preferable period.

2- Malaysian Borneo

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In the east, the Malaysian part of Borneo (the largest island in Asia) is even rainier than Peninsular Malaysia, especially in the part closest to the equator, west of Brunei (see the State of Sarawak), where precipitation exceeds 3,500 mm (137 in) per year.
Borneo is also hot all year round, and the sea is always warm enough for swimming.

Kuching

The westernmost part is the rainiest (see the red area on the map), where Kuching is located, well exposed to the north-east monsoon and therefore very rainy from October to March, with more than 300 mm (12 in) per month, and up to 700 mm (27.5 in) in January, a period when it rains almost every day. In the other months, it goes a bit better, and the rainfall goes below 300 mm (12 in) per month from April to September, which is therefore the best time (or, honestly, the least worst).
Here is the average precipitation in Kuching.

In Kuching, which is located just north of the equator, the hottest period is the least rainy one, from April to August. In July 2014, the temperature reached 37.3 °C (99.1 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

In Kuching, the amount of sunshine is not very good, and it becomes quite low in the wettest period, from October to March. In a year, there are just 1,800 hours of sunshine.

Bintulu

Since it is not directly exposed to the north-east, the coast of Borneo to the east of Kuching and up to Miri (blue area), does not experience that extreme peak of rainfall from December to February, but otherwise, the trend is similar, with heavy rains throughout the year. So, it being understood that there is no period with a perfect climate, the best period in this region is probably from May to July.
Here is the average precipitation in Bintulu.

In Bintulu too, the hottest period is from April to August. In August 2002, the temperature reached 36.3 °C (97.3 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

The sun in Bintulu shines a little more often than in Kuching, although the sunshine pattern is more or less the same.

East of the small country of Brunei, in the state of Sabah and up to Kudat (green area), all in all, the best time runs from February to April. In Labuan, a particularly rainy island, the average rainfall drops below 150 mm (6 in) from January to March.

Kota Kinabalu

More to the north-east, in Kota Kinabalu, rainfall drops below 100 mm (4 in) per month in February and March.
Here is the average precipitation in Kota Kinabalu.

From April to August, the temperature usually reaches 34 °C (93 °F), but sometimes it can reach 36 °C (97 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

The sun in Kota Kinabalu shines quite often from February to May.

Sandakan

On the northeasternmost part of the coast, in Sandakan, directly exposed to the north-east monsoon, we find again a period with particularly heavy rains from November to February, while the least rainy period (and therefore the best one) is from March to May, however, with more than 100 mm (4 in) per month.
Here is the average precipitation in Sandakan: as you can see, the rains are particularly abundant especially in December and January.

In Sandakan, as in the rest of Malaysia, it is hot all year round. The record is 36 °C (97 °F), set on a few occasions from April to July. Here are the average temperatures.

The sun in Sandakan shines quite often in the least rainy period, from March to May.

In Sandakan, as in the rest of Malaysia, the sea is warm all year round.

Off the coast of Sandakan, we find some islands, including the Turtle Islands and Lankayan, where in addition to the coral reef, you can admire the green turtles, which come to lay their eggs (generally, from June to September). West of Sandakan, instead, we find the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center.

In the south-eastern portion of Sabah, near the border with Indonesia (orange area), there is a small region which is quite sheltered, at least from the north-east monsoon: the Bay of Lahad Datu, where less than 2,000 mm (79 in) fall per annum, with a minimum of about 150 mm (6 in) per month from June to September, and the Semporna archipelago.

Tawau

Further south, near the border with the Indonesian part of Borneo, we find the city of Tawau, where rainfall amounts to 1,765 mm (69.5 in) per year, and exceeds 200 mm (8 in) only in July and August, even if there isn't a really dry month. Here is the average rainfall.

Here are the average temperatures.

The sun in Tawau shines for a fair number of hours all year round; however, the sunniest months (albeit slightly) are April and May. The total is 2,450 hours of sunshine a year.

Cyclones, mountains, El Niño

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Malaysia is located just south of the latitude where tropical cyclones (called typhoons in the Pacific Ocean and cyclones in the Indian Ocean) form. This means that the country can be affected, usually in a marginal way, especially in the northernmost part, and certainly not as much as the Philippines and the countries of south-east Asia. The cyclone and typhoon season lasts from May to December, with a peak of likelihood in December. However, since the sea in this area is always warm, in theory, tropical storms may form in any season. During the Christmas period of 2001, Tropical Storm Vamei affected Peninsular Malaysia, passing at an incredibly low latitude.

In the interior of Malaysia, there are hilly areas (called highlands), which have a slightly cooler climate and are often covered with rainforests, but there are also mountains, the highest of which is Mount Kinabalu, located in Borneo abd exceeding 4,000 meters (13,000 ft), while in Peninsular Malaysia, there are a few peaks that are slightly higher than 2,000 meters (6,500 feet). The temperature obviously decreases with increasing altitude: at 1,500 meters (5,000 feet), the daily average is around 18.5/20 °C (65/68 °F).
Here are the average temperatures of Tanah Rata, which is located on the Cameron Highlands, in Peninsular Malaysia, 1,470 meters (4,800 feet) above sea level.

Malaysia is also affected by the phenomenon known as El Niño, which brings unusually high temperatures and drought, especially in the years when it is more intense, as happened in 1998, when water had to be rationed in Kuala Lumpur. The opposite phenomenon, La Niña, brings cooler temperatures than normal and heavy rainfall.

Best Time

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The best time to visit Malaysia as a whole is from June to August: to tell the truth, it's everywhere a rainy period, with more than 100 mm (4 in) per month, and sometimes more than 200 mm (8 in); on the other hand, this is the climate of Malaysia and you cannot get any better. For the best times in specific areas, you can refer to the above suggestions.
As mentioned, the sea is warm all year round.

What to pack

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All year round: bring tropics-friendly, loose-fitting clothing, made of natural fibers, a scarf for the breeze, a light sweatshirt for air-conditioned places, a light raincoat or umbrella.
For mid-elevation mountains, around 1,500 meters (5,000 feet), bring spring/autumn clothes, a sweatshirt and a jacket; for high mountains, warm clothes, a warm jacket, a raincoat, hiking shoes.
When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes.