Penang Weather in January

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

Planning a trip to Penang, Malaysia this January? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in Penang in January

Penang, Malaysia is a region in Malaysia. January in Penang generally has very warm temperatures, with high precipitation.

Temperatures

You can expect very warm maximum daytime temperatures of around 31°C (88°F) and nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) in George Town. 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 Penang, Malaysia, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From high rainfall in Batu Ferringhi with an average of 108 mm (4.3 in) to high rainfall in Bukit Mertajam with 141 mm (5.6 in).

Average sunshine

Plenty of sunshine can be expected in numerous places in January. George Town typically receives 192 hours of sunlight, making it ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Penang by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Penang — and find the best time to visit. (based on George Town)

Best Places to Visit in Penang in January

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

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 Penang

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Penang, Malaysia?

Temperature range in Penang (January)

Precipitation variation in Penang (January)

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

Batu Ferringhi

In January Batu Ferringhi generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 26°C (79°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
Monthly sun hours
170 hours
192 hours
202 hours
Monthly rainfall
182 mm (7.2 in)
108 mm (4.3 in)
110 mm (4.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
9 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Bayan Lepas

In January Bayan Lepas 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
211 hours
249 hours
233 hours
Monthly rainfall
221 mm (8.7 in)
134 mm (5.3 in)
124 mm (4.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
9 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Tanjung Bungah

In January Tanjung Bungah 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
187 mm (7.4 in)
111 mm (4.4 in)
113 mm (4.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
9 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Tanjong Tokong

In January Tanjong Tokong 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
187 mm (7.4 in)
111 mm (4.4 in)
112 mm (4.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
9 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Penang, 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 Penang in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
George Town 31°C (88°F) 25°C (77°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Batu Ferringhi 31°C (88°F) 26°C (79°F) 108 mm (4.3 in)
Bayan Lepas 31°C (88°F) 25°C (77°F) 134 mm (5.3 in)
Tanjung Bungah 31°C (88°F) 25°C (77°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Tanjong Tokong 31°C (88°F) 25°C (77°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Ayer Itam 31°C (88°F) 25°C (77°F) 119 mm (4.7 in)

Penang weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Penang, Malaysia in January?

Penang, Malaysia typically experiences unpleasant weather in January, part of the season. Daytime highs in George Town average around 31°C (88°F), and temperatures drop to about 25°C (77°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Penang, Malaysia in January?

In George Town, the average daytime high in January is 31°C (88°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 25°C (77°F).

Does Penang, Malaysia get a lot of rain in January?

Yes, January tends to be a wetter month in Penang, Malaysia. Average rainfall in George Town sits around 120 mm (4.7 in).

Is January a Good Time to Visit Penang, Malaysia?

We believe that January is one of the best times to visit Penang, Malaysia with overall tolerable weather in George Town. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.

Generally speaking, January, February, June and July provide unpleasant weather in George Town.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Penang.

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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