Kinabalu National Park

Malaysia Weather in January

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

Planning a journey to Malaysia this January 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 January

Malaysia has a wide variety of climate types. During January, you can expect temperatures that range from warm to very warm and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from warm in Kundasang at 23°C (73°F) to very warm in Jitra at 33°C (91°F). At night it cools down to 24°C (75°F) in Jitra and 17°C (63°F) in Kundasang. While the given temperatures for day and night are typical, there may be days that feel warmer. Make sure you're dressed in a way that keeps you cool and comfortable.

To explore the conditions in Malaysia in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Tanjung Rhu with an average of 44 mm (1.7 in) to heavy rainfall in Santubong with 447 mm (18 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine levels are moderate in most locations. Kuala Lumpur typically sees 185 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

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Malaysia — and find the best time to visit. (based on Kuala Lumpur)

Best Places to Visit in Malaysia in January

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 January for some of the most popular destinations in Malaysia?

Temperature range in Malaysia (January)

Precipitation variation in Malaysia (January)

Kuala Lumpur

In January 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.

December
January
February
Max temperature
32°C (90°F)
32°C (90°F)
33°C (91°F)
Min temperature
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly sun hours
163 hours
185 hours
192 hours
Monthly rainfall
301 mm (12 in)
220 mm (8.7 in)
174 mm (6.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
15 days
15 days
Weather conditions

Melaka

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

December
January
February
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
171 hours
194 hours
204 hours
Monthly rainfall
231 mm (9.1 in)
120 mm (4.7 in)
89 mm (3.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
13 days
12 days
Weather conditions

George Town

In January 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 high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
32°C (90°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
26°C (79°F)
Monthly sun hours
170 hours
192 hours
202 hours
Monthly rainfall
201 mm (7.9 in)
120 mm (4.7 in)
118 mm (4.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
9 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Johor Bahru

In January 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.

December
January
February
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly sun hours
134 hours
172 hours
182 hours
Monthly rainfall
317 mm (12 in)
203 mm (8 in)
148 mm (5.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
13 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Kota Kinabalu

In January 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.

December
January
February
Max temperature
29°C (84°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
198 hours
188 hours
196 hours
Monthly rainfall
255 mm (10 in)
200 mm (7.9 in)
158 mm (6.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
18 days
13 days
Weather conditions

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

In our records: Malaysia January extremes

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

  • In our records, the coldest January daytime high in Malaysia was 22°C (72°F) in Taman Negara National Park on January 12, 2018.

Popular cities in January

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Kuala Lumpur 32°C (90°F) 24°C (75°F) 220 mm (8.7 in)
Melaka 30°C (86°F) 25°C (77°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
George Town 31°C (88°F) 25°C (77°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Ipoh 31°C (88°F) 22°C (72°F) 192 mm (7.6 in)
Kuching 31°C (88°F) 23°C (73°F) 426 mm (17 in)
Tanah Rata 29°C (84°F) 19°C (66°F) 184 mm (7.2 in)

Malaysia weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Malaysia in January?

In January, 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 January?

Daytime temperatures in Kuala Lumpur peak at roughly 32°C (90°F) in January, dropping to about 24°C (75°F) overnight.

Does Malaysia get a lot of rain in January?

Yes. January brings heavy rainfall to Malaysia, with Kuala Lumpur averaging around 220 mm (8.7 in). Expect frequent showers and pack accordingly.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Malaysia?

In our opinion, January 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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Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.