Malaysia

Malaysia Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Malaysia in December.

Planning a journey to Malaysia this December and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in Malaysia in December

December in Malaysia generally has temperatures that range from warm to very warm, with precipitation levels ranging from high to heavy.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from warm in Kundasang at 23°C (73°F) to very warm in Sandakan at 32°C (90°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 24°C (75°F) in Sandakan and 17°C (63°F) in Kundasang. These night and day temperatures are average and some days may be even warmer. So be prepared and dress for the heat.

For a closer look at conditions across Malaysia, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From high rainfall in Tanjung Rhu with an average of 115 mm (4.5 in) to heavy rainfall in Kijal with 572 mm (23 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine levels are moderate in most locations. Kuala Lumpur typically sees 163 hours of sunlight, creating comfortable conditions that aren't too bright or too dim. Looking for something sunnier? Our weather planner helps you discover destinations with more reliable sunshine.

Explore Malaysia by month

Best Places to Visit in Malaysia in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Malaysia.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Malaysia

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Malaysia?

Temperature range in Malaysia (December)

Precipitation variation in Malaysia (December)

Kuala Lumpur

In December Kuala Lumpur generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 32°C (90°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
32°C (90°F)
32°C (90°F)
32°C (90°F)
Min temperature
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly sun hours
152 hours
163 hours
185 hours
Monthly rainfall
360 mm (14 in)
301 mm (12 in)
220 mm (8.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
25 days
21 days
15 days
Weather conditions

Melaka

In December Melaka generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
156 hours
171 hours
194 hours
Monthly rainfall
283 mm (11 in)
231 mm (9.1 in)
120 mm (4.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
24 days
18 days
13 days
Weather conditions

George Town

In December George Town generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
165 hours
170 hours
192 hours
Monthly rainfall
318 mm (13 in)
201 mm (7.9 in)
120 mm (4.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
15 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Johor Bahru

In December Johor Bahru generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
31°C (88°F)
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly sun hours
130 hours
134 hours
172 hours
Monthly rainfall
336 mm (13 in)
317 mm (12 in)
203 mm (8 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
20 days
13 days
Weather conditions

Kota Kinabalu

In December Kota Kinabalu generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly sun hours
193 hours
198 hours
188 hours
Monthly rainfall
263 mm (10 in)
255 mm (10 in)
200 mm (7.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
24 days
21 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Malaysia.

In our records: Malaysia December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in Malaysia in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • From our sources, the wettest December day in Malaysia brought 440 mm (17 in) in Kuantan on December 22, 2001.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Malaysia in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Kuala Lumpur 32°C (90°F) 24°C (75°F) 301 mm (12 in)
Melaka 30°C (86°F) 25°C (77°F) 231 mm (9.1 in)
George Town 31°C (88°F) 25°C (77°F) 201 mm (7.9 in)
Ipoh 30°C (86°F) 22°C (72°F) 267 mm (11 in)
Kuching 31°C (88°F) 23°C (73°F) 430 mm (17 in)
Tanah Rata 28°C (82°F) 20°C (68°F) 281 mm (11 in)

Malaysia weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Malaysia in December?

In December, Malaysia generally has poor weather conditions. Kuala Lumpur sees daytime temperatures near 32°C (90°F), with nights cooling to roughly 24°C (75°F).

What is the average temperature in Malaysia in December?

Average temperatures in Malaysia during December range from a nighttime low near 24°C (75°F) to a daytime high around 32°C (90°F) in Kuala Lumpur.

Does Malaysia get a lot of rain in December?

Expect plenty of rainfall. Kuala Lumpur records an average of 301 mm (12 in) in December, putting it among the wetter months for Malaysia.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Malaysia?

In our opinion, December may not be the ideal time to visit Malaysia due to the typically poor weather in Kuala Lumpur.

Generally speaking, provide poor weather in Kuala Lumpur.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Malaysia.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Malaysia? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Malaysia.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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