Malaysia Weather by Month
Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country located just north of the Equator. The country is divided into two main regions:
- Peninsular Malaysia: Bordered by Thailand to the north and Singapore to the south, with the Strait of Malacca to the west and the South China Sea to the east. Major cities like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor Bahru are located in this region.
- East Malaysia (Borneo): Located on the northern part of the island of Borneo, this region includes the states of Sabah and Sarawak, as well as the federal territory of Labuan. It is bordered by Brunei and Indonesia.
Malaysia is known for its diverse landscapes, which include tropical rainforests, mountains, rivers, and islands. The country has a tropical climate, characterized by:
- High temperatures year-round, typically ranging between 25°C to 32°C (77°F to 90°F).
- High humidity, averaging around 80%.
- Two main monsoon seasons:
- Southwest Monsoon: From May to September, bringing slightly drier conditions.
- Northeast Monsoon: From November to March, bringing heavy rainfall, particularly to the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and parts of East Malaysia.
Due to Malaysia’s proximity to the Equator, there is little variation in temperature throughout the year, but rainfall and humidity fluctuate significantly, especially between the east and west coasts of the peninsula and in Borneo. Below is a detailed breakdown of the weather in Malaysia by month.
January
Weather Overview
January is part of the Northeast Monsoon season, which brings heavy rainfall to the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia. However, the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur and Penang, experiences relatively drier conditions.
West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Penang)
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 100-200 mm
- Weather: Warm and relatively dry with occasional rain. Kuala Lumpur and Penang experience some rain showers, but the weather is generally more favorable for travel compared to the east coast.
East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia (Kuantan, Terengganu)
- Temperature: 23°C to 30°C (73°F to 86°F)
- Rainfall: 300-600 mm
- Weather: Heavy rain and thunderstorms due to the Northeast Monsoon. The east coast is prone to flooding, and many beach resorts are closed during this period.
East Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak)
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 300-500 mm
- Weather: Warm but rainy, with frequent thunderstorms in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. Rainfall is heavier in the highlands and rainforests, making it a wet month for much of Borneo.
February
Weather Overview
February remains part of the Northeast Monsoon season, but rainfall starts to decrease slightly, especially toward the end of the month. The west coast continues to enjoy relatively drier conditions, while the east coast and Borneo still experience significant rainfall.
West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 100-200 mm
- Weather: Warm and mostly dry with occasional showers. Kuala Lumpur and Penang have pleasant weather for sightseeing, though sporadic rain showers are common.
East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 23°C to 30°C (73°F to 86°F)
- Rainfall: 250-500 mm
- Weather: Wet and stormy, especially in the early part of the month. The east coast remains prone to heavy rainfall, with potential flooding in some areas.
East Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 300-500 mm
- Weather: Warm and rainy. Sabah and Sarawak continue to experience heavy rains, with thunderstorms and high humidity, particularly in the coastal and rainforest areas.
March
Weather Overview
March marks the transition from the Northeast Monsoon to the inter-monsoon period. Rainfall begins to decrease, especially on the east coast, but occasional showers still occur across the country.
West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 25°C to 32°C (77°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 150-250 mm
- Weather: Warm with increasing rainfall. Kuala Lumpur and Penang experience occasional thunderstorms, but overall, the weather is still good for travel.
East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 31°C (75°F to 88°F)
- Rainfall: 150-400 mm
- Weather: Rainy but improving. The east coast experiences less rainfall than previous months, but showers and thunderstorms are still common, particularly in the afternoons.
East Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 300-450 mm
- Weather: Warm and humid with occasional rain. Kota Kinabalu and Kuching still experience regular rain showers, especially in the rainforests and highland areas.
April
Weather Overview
April is part of the inter-monsoon period, where rainfall is distributed more evenly across Malaysia. This is a transitional month with warm temperatures and occasional rain throughout the country.
West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 25°C to 32°C (77°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 200-300 mm
- Weather: Warm with frequent rain showers. Kuala Lumpur and Penang experience afternoon thunderstorms, but the mornings are typically clear and sunny.
East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 31°C (75°F to 88°F)
- Rainfall: 150-350 mm
- Weather: Warm and wet. The east coast sees scattered rain showers, but beach resorts begin to reopen, and the weather improves for outdoor activities.
East Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 250-400 mm
- Weather: Warm and rainy, with frequent thunderstorms. Borneo experiences high humidity and occasional heavy downpours, particularly in the rainforest areas.
May
Weather Overview
May marks the beginning of the Southwest Monsoon season, which brings drier conditions to the west coast and parts of Borneo, while the east coast and highland areas still experience rain.
West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 25°C to 33°C (77°F to 91°F)
- Rainfall: 100-200 mm
- Weather: Warm and drier. Kuala Lumpur and Penang experience less rainfall, making it an ideal time for travel and sightseeing, though occasional thunderstorms still occur.
East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 150-300 mm
- Weather: Warm and humid with frequent rain showers. The east coast still experiences regular thunderstorms, particularly in the afternoons.
East Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 200-350 mm
- Weather: Warm and slightly drier. Sabah and Sarawak experience less rainfall compared to previous months, but afternoon thunderstorms are still common.
June
Weather Overview
June is firmly within the Southwest Monsoon season, bringing drier conditions to much of the country, particularly the west coast and parts of Borneo. The east coast still experiences scattered showers.
West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 25°C to 33°C (77°F to 91°F)
- Rainfall: 100-200 mm
- Weather: Warm and mostly dry. Kuala Lumpur and Penang enjoy sunny weather with occasional rain, making it an ideal time for travel and outdoor activities.
East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 150-300 mm
- Weather: Warm with occasional rain showers. The east coast still experiences some rainfall, but overall, the weather is improving as the monsoon season subsides.
East Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 150-300 mm
- Weather: Warm and mostly dry. Sabah and Sarawak experience less rain, with occasional thunderstorms, particularly in the rainforest areas.
July
Weather Overview
July is one of the driest months in Malaysia, especially on the west coast, due to the Southwest Monsoon. However, the east coast still experiences scattered rain showers.
West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 25°C to 33°C (77°F to 91°F)
- Rainfall: 100-150 mm
- Weather: Warm and sunny. Kuala Lumpur and Penang experience mostly clear skies, making it a great time for outdoor activities and beach trips.
East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 150-250 mm
- Weather: Warm with occasional rain showers. The east coast still experiences some rainfall, though the weather is generally favorable for travel.
East Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 150-300 mm
- Weather: Warm and mostly dry. Sabah and Sarawak experience sunny weather, though afternoon thunderstorms are still possible, particularly in the rainforest and mountainous regions.
August
Weather Overview
August is similar to July in that it is part of the Southwest Monsoon, bringing drier conditions to the west coast and slightly wetter weather to the east coast and Borneo.
West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 25°C to 33°C (77°F to 91°F)
- Rainfall: 100-200 mm
- Weather: Warm and sunny with occasional rain. Kuala Lumpur and Penang continue to experience dry weather, making it ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 150-300 mm
- Weather: Warm with scattered rain showers. The east coast experiences some afternoon thunderstorms, but the overall weather is favorable for travel.
East Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 200-350 mm
- Weather: Warm and slightly wetter. Sabah and Sarawak experience more rain showers compared to July, especially in the rainforest regions.
September
Weather Overview
September marks the transition from the Southwest Monsoon to the inter-monsoon period. Rainfall begins to increase across the country, particularly on the east coast and in Borneo.
West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 25°C to 33°C (77°F to 91°F)
- Rainfall: 200-300 mm
- Weather: Warm with increasing rainfall. Kuala Lumpur and Penang experience more frequent rain showers, particularly in the afternoons.
East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 200-400 mm
- Weather: Warm with increasing rainfall. The east coast experiences more thunderstorms as the wet season approaches, but mornings are often clear and sunny.
East Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 250-400 mm
- Weather: Warm and rainy. Sabah and Sarawak experience increasing rainfall, particularly in the rainforest and coastal areas.
October
Weather Overview
October is part of the inter-monsoon period, with heavy rainfall across much of the country as the Northeast Monsoon approaches. This is one of the wettest months of the year.
West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 250-350 mm
- Weather: Warm and rainy with frequent thunderstorms. Kuala Lumpur and Penang experience heavy rain, particularly in the afternoons and evenings.
East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 300-500 mm
- Weather: Wet and stormy. The east coast experiences heavy rainfall as the Northeast Monsoon begins, with frequent thunderstorms and the potential for flooding.
East Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 300-500 mm
- Weather: Warm and very wet. Sabah and Sarawak experience heavy rainfall, with frequent thunderstorms and high humidity.
November
Weather Overview
November is part of the Northeast Monsoon season, bringing heavy rainfall to the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. The west coast remains relatively drier, though rain is still common.
West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 200-300 mm
- Weather: Warm and rainy with frequent thunderstorms. Kuala Lumpur and Penang experience occasional heavy rain, but the west coast is generally drier than the east.
East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 23°C to 30°C (73°F to 86°F)
- Rainfall: 400-600 mm
- Weather: Very wet and stormy. The east coast experiences heavy rainfall, with frequent thunderstorms and the potential for flooding, making it less ideal for travel.
East Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 400-600 mm
- Weather: Warm and very wet. Sabah and Sarawak experience heavy rainfall, particularly in the coastal and rainforest areas.
December
Weather Overview
December is one of the wettest months in Malaysia, especially on the east coast and in Borneo, due to the Northeast Monsoon. The west coast remains relatively drier, but occasional showers are still common.
West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 150-250 mm
- Weather: Warm with occasional rain showers. Kuala Lumpur and Penang experience fewer thunderstorms compared to the east coast, making it a better time to visit this region.
East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
- Temperature: 23°C to 30°C (73°F to 86°F)
- Rainfall: 500-700 mm
- Weather: Very wet and stormy. The east coast is heavily affected by the Northeast Monsoon, with frequent thunderstorms and flooding in some areas.
East Malaysia
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 500-700 mm
- Weather: Warm and extremely wet. Sabah and Sarawak experience heavy rainfall, with frequent thunderstorms and high humidity throughout the month.
