Best Time to Visit Kota Kinabalu
Malaysia · 30-year monthly climate averages
☀️ When to go
Based on 30 years of climate data, the most comfortable months to visit Kota Kinabalu are January, February and March, when daytime temperatures are agreeable and rainfall is relatively low.
Climate profile
Kota Kinabalu sees its warmest weather in May, when daytime highs average around 33°C, and its coolest in January (around 31°C).
Annual precipitation totals roughly 2718mm — October is typically the wettest month (~387mm) and February the driest (~78mm).
A distinctly wetter period runs from April to January — worth planning around if you prefer dry days.
Year at a glance
🟧 avg daytime high · 🟦 dashed: avg nighttime low · bars: monthly rainfall
🔥 Recent heat vs normal
Daily forecast highs vs the 30-year normal — last 37 days
Each bar is one day: orange above normal, blue below.
Month by month
| Month | High / Low | Rainfall | Travel rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° / 24°C | 141mm | 🤔 Fair |
| February | 31° / 24°C | 78mm | 👍 Good |
| March | 32° / 24°C | 93mm | 🤔 Fair |
| April | 33° / 25°C | 123mm | 🤔 Fair |
| May | 33° / 25°C | 212mm | ⚠️ Challenging |
| June | 33° / 24°C | 284mm | ⚠️ Challenging |
| July | 32° / 24°C | 288mm | ⚠️ Challenging |
| August | 32° / 24°C | 279mm | ⚠️ Challenging |
| September | 32° / 24°C | 287mm | ⚠️ Challenging |
| October | 32° / 24°C | 387mm | ⚠️ Challenging |
| November | 32° / 24°C | 283mm | ⚠️ Challenging |
| December | 32° / 24°C | 262mm | ⚠️ Challenging |
FAQ
- What is the best time to visit Kota Kinabalu?
- Based on 30 years of climate data, the most comfortable months to visit Kota Kinabalu are January, February and March, when daytime temperatures are agreeable and rainfall is relatively low.
- What is the hottest month in Kota Kinabalu?
- May is typically the hottest month in Kota Kinabalu, with average daytime highs around 33°C.
- What is the rainiest month in Kota Kinabalu?
- October is usually the wettest month, with around 387mm of precipitation.