Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Climate & Monthly Averages
Kuala Lumpur has a tropical rainforest climate. May is the hottest month, averaging 88° by day; November is the coldest at 86°.
Rain, not cold, divides the year in 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.
The wet-and-dry rhythm at a glance
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.
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.
More climate facts for Kuala Lumpur
- 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%
Choosing the right part of the year in Kuala Lumpur
Choose dates by rain, not just temperature
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.
What the humidity changes
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.
Warm all year: the monthly rain pattern
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Kuala Lumpur's coldest night and 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
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Kuala Lumpur's coolest part of the year: November, December, January.
Monthly temperature and rain 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% |
How Kuala Lumpur compares for rain and warmth
- 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.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.
How the calendar changes in warm-weather 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.
Questions about heat and rain in Kuala Lumpur
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?
Kuala Lumpur temperature extremes in the 2015–2024 dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.