Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Climate & Monthly Averages

Malaysia 🇲🇾 · tropical rainforest climate
Annual avg
80°
Hottest month
May
Coldest month
November
Rainy days / yr
296
Sunshine
9.0 h/day
Right now: 76° and smoky haze - see live conditions

The climate of Kuala Lumpur

Temperature barely moves in Kuala Lumpur - 1°C between the average May and the average November. Rainfall does the work instead: 15.0 inches (380 mm) in November against 4.6 inches (117 mm) in February.

Climate quick facts

  • Hottest month: May - highs near 88°F (31°C)
  • Coldest month: November - highs near 86°F (30°C)
  • Decade extremes (2015-2024): 97°F (36°C) high · 67°F (19°C) low
  • Wettest month: November (29 rainy days) · Sunniest: February (10.0 h sun/day)
  • Climate type: tropical rainforest
  • Annual swing: 1°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 7°C
  • Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 10
  • Average humidity: 83%

Temperatures through the year

February is the brightest month at 10.0 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 9.0. November bottoms out at 86°F (30°C) in daylight, 75°F (24°C) after dark. May is the warm end of the year, averaging 88°F (31°C) by day and 76°F (24°C) overnight. Between the average May and the average November lie 1°C, a narrower spread than almost anywhere else we cover.

Rain, sun and snow

Average highs hold at or above 30°C for 10 months of the year, January through October being the unbroken run. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 97°F (36°C) and bottoms at 67°F (19°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records.

How Kuala Lumpur compares

  • Rain or snow reaches the ground on 296 days a year - more wet days than any other city in our 3496-city dataset.
  • Annual precipitation is 115.7 inches (2939 mm) - wetter than any other city in our 3496-city dataset.
  • Relative humidity averages 83% - more humid than 94% of the 3496 cities we track.

Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.

Monthly climate table

Monthly averages for Kuala Lumpur based on 2015–2024 weather data.
MonthHighLow Rain daysPrecipitation SunshineHumidity
January 86° 74° 22 8.7 in 8.9 h/day 83%
February 88° 74° 17 4.6 in 10.0 h/day 78%
March 89° 75° 25 8.8 in 10.0 h/day 81%
April 88° 76° 28 11.3 in 9.3 h/day 84%
May 88° 76° 28 10.8 in 8.9 h/day 85%
June 87° 76° 23 7.3 in 9.3 h/day 83%
July 87° 75° 22 7.1 in 9.6 h/day 82%
August 87° 75° 25 8.9 in 9.1 h/day 83%
September 87° 75° 25 10.0 in 8.9 h/day 83%
October 87° 75° 24 10.8 in 8.7 h/day 84%
November 86° 75° 29 15.0 in 7.5 h/day 87%
December 86° 74° 27 12.3 in 8.2 h/day 86%

Kuala Lumpur month by month

Kuala Lumpur weather in January

January brings highs around 86°F (30°C), lows near 74°F (23°C), about 22 wet days.

Kuala Lumpur weather in February

February brings highs around 88°F (31°C), lows near 74°F (24°C), about 17 wet days - typically the driest month and the sunniest month of the year in Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur weather in March

March brings highs around 89°F (32°C), lows near 75°F (24°C), about 25 wet days.

Kuala Lumpur weather in April

April brings highs around 88°F (31°C), lows near 76°F (24°C), about 28 wet days.

Kuala Lumpur weather in May

May brings highs around 88°F (31°C), lows near 76°F (24°C), about 28 wet days - typically the hottest month of the year in Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur weather in June

June brings highs around 87°F (31°C), lows near 76°F (24°C), about 23 wet days.

Kuala Lumpur weather in July

July brings highs around 87°F (31°C), lows near 75°F (24°C), about 22 wet days.

Kuala Lumpur weather in August

August brings highs around 87°F (30°C), lows near 75°F (24°C), about 25 wet days.

Kuala Lumpur weather in September

September brings highs around 87°F (30°C), lows near 75°F (24°C), about 25 wet days.

Kuala Lumpur weather in October

October brings highs around 87°F (30°C), lows near 75°F (24°C), about 24 wet days.

Kuala Lumpur weather in November

November brings highs around 86°F (30°C), lows near 75°F (24°C), about 29 wet days - typically the coldest month and the wettest month of the year in Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur weather in December

December brings highs around 86°F (30°C), lows near 74°F (24°C), about 27 wet days.

Seasons in Kuala Lumpur

March through May

March through May runs hot here - highs near 88°F (31°C), nights near 76°F (24°C), and rain falls on around 81 of the 90 days.

June through August

Through June through August, Kuala Lumpur brings hot afternoons: 87°F (31°C) by day, 75°F (24°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 71 of the 90 days.

September through November

September through November is hot here - highs near 86°F (30°C), nights near 75°F (24°C), and rain falls on around 79 of the 90 days.

December through February

December through February sits firmly in the heat here - highs near 87°F (30°C), nights near 74°F (24°C), and rain falls on around 66 of the 90 days.

Climate questions, answered

How cold does Kuala Lumpur get in winter?
November nights average 75°F (24°C). Cold never really arrives.
Is Kuala Lumpur warmer or cooler than most cities?
Its 80°F (27°C) annual average is warmer than 93% of the 3496 cities in our dataset, which are all measured on the same 2015-2024 basis.
Is Kuala Lumpur hot in summer?
May averages 88°F (31°C). Hot afternoons happen but extremes are not the norm.
How long does summer last in Kuala Lumpur?
Average highs hold at 30°C or above for 10 months of the year. Outside that, November pulls back to 86°F (30°C).
How often does it rain in Kuala Lumpur?
About 296 days bring measurable precipitation, totalling 115.7 inches (2939 mm). That works out at roughly 9.9 mm on an average wet day.

Best time to visit Kuala Lumpur

January to June is the sweet spot for Kuala Lumpur - the dry season is running but the afternoons are still bearable. Expect 88°F (31°C) in the afternoon and around 24 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in January.

Pack for Kuala Lumpur with light clothing for the warm months, proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here and moisture-wicking fabrics for the humidity. Even in May, lows of 76°F (24°C) make an extra layer worth the space.

Kuala Lumpur temperature records (2015-2024)

Highest recorded
97°
in February
Lowest recorded
67°
in February
Annual precipitation
115.7"
Snowy days / yr
0

Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.