Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Climate & Monthly Averages
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
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 86° | 74° | 22 | 8.7 in | 8.9 h/day | 12.0 h | 72% | 83% |
| February | 88° | 74° | 17 | 4.6 in | 10.0 h/day | 12.0 h | 59% | 78% |
| March | 89° | 75° | 25 | 8.8 in | 10.0 h/day | 12.1 h | 79% | 81% |
| April | 88° | 76° | 28 | 11.3 in | 9.3 h/day | 12.2 h | 94% | 84% |
| May | 88° | 76° | 28 | 10.8 in | 8.9 h/day | 12.3 h | 90% | 85% |
| June | 87° | 76° | 23 | 7.3 in | 9.3 h/day | 12.3 h | 77% | 83% |
| July | 87° | 75° | 22 | 7.1 in | 9.6 h/day | 12.3 h | 72% | 82% |
| August | 87° | 75° | 25 | 8.9 in | 9.1 h/day | 12.2 h | 82% | 83% |
| September | 87° | 75° | 25 | 10.0 in | 8.9 h/day | 12.1 h | 83% | 83% |
| October | 87° | 75° | 24 | 10.8 in | 8.7 h/day | 12.0 h | 79% | 84% |
| November | 86° | 75° | 29 | 15.0 in | 7.5 h/day | 12.0 h | 98% | 87% |
| December | 86° | 74° | 27 | 12.3 in | 8.2 h/day | 11.9 h | 88% | 86% |
Kuala Lumpur month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Kuala Lumpur's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 22 days
- Sunshine
- 8.9 h
- Daylight
- 12.0 h
February
- Rain
- 17 days
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 12.0 h
March
- Rain
- 25 days
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
April
- Rain
- 28 days
- Sunshine
- 9.3 h
- Daylight
- 12.2 h
May
- Rain
- 28 days
- Sunshine
- 8.9 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
June
- Rain
- 23 days
- Sunshine
- 9.3 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
July
- Rain
- 22 days
- Sunshine
- 9.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
August
- Rain
- 25 days
- Sunshine
- 9.1 h
- Daylight
- 12.2 h
September
- Rain
- 25 days
- Sunshine
- 8.9 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
October
- Rain
- 24 days
- Sunshine
- 8.7 h
- Daylight
- 12.0 h
November
- Rain
- 29 days
- Sunshine
- 7.5 h
- Daylight
- 12.0 h
December
- Rain
- 27 days
- Sunshine
- 8.2 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
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?
Is Kuala Lumpur warmer or cooler than most cities?
Is Kuala Lumpur hot in summer?
How long does summer last in Kuala Lumpur?
How often does it rain in Kuala Lumpur?
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)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.