Kundasang

Sabah Weather in December

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

Planning a journey to Sabah, 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 Sabah in December

Sabah, Malaysia is a region in Malaysia. December in Sabah generally has temperatures that range from warm to very warm, with heavy precipitation.

Temperatures

During the day the temperature is warm in Kundasang at 23°C (73°F) and very warm in Sandakan at 32°C (90°F). As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 24°C (75°F) in Sandakan 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.

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

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From heavy rainfall in Lahad Datu with an average of 192 mm (7.6 in) to heavy rainfall in Sepilok with 303 mm (12 in).

Average sunshine

Many locations offer abundant sunshine during this month. For instance, Kota Kinabalu enjoys approximately 198 hours of sunlight, ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Sabah by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Sabah - and find the best time to visit. (based on Kota Kinabalu)

Best Places to Visit in Sabah in December

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

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 Sabah

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

Temperature range in Sabah (December)

Precipitation variation in Sabah (December)

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 mixed 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

Sandakan

In December Sandakan 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 less favorable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
33°C (91°F)
32°C (90°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly sun hours
183 hours
211 hours
251 hours
Monthly rainfall
290 mm (11 in)
301 mm (12 in)
296 mm (12 in)
Monthly rainy days
24 days
25 days
24 days
Weather conditions

Ranau

In December Ranau generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 19°C (66°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are mixed that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
19°C (66°F)
19°C (66°F)
19°C (66°F)
Monthly sun hours
193 hours
198 hours
188 hours
Monthly rainfall
212 mm (8.3 in)
209 mm (8.2 in)
189 mm (7.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
25 days
23 days
20 days
Weather conditions

Semporna

In December Semporna 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 less favorable 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 rainfall
216 mm (8.5 in)
224 mm (8.8 in)
212 mm (8.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
21 days
21 days
Weather conditions

Bilit

In December Bilit generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 32°C (90°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 23°C (73°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
33°C (91°F)
32°C (90°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly sun hours
183 hours
211 hours
251 hours
Monthly rainfall
277 mm (11 in)
280 mm (11 in)
273 mm (11 in)
Monthly rainy days
23 days
24 days
24 days
Weather conditions

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Kota Kinabalu 29°C (84°F) 24°C (75°F) 255 mm (10 in)
Sandakan 32°C (90°F) 24°C (75°F) 301 mm (12 in)
Ranau 29°C (84°F) 19°C (66°F) 209 mm (8.2 in)
Semporna 30°C (86°F) 25°C (77°F) 224 mm (8.8 in)
Bilit 32°C (90°F) 23°C (73°F) 280 mm (11 in)
Sepilok 31°C (88°F) 25°C (77°F) 303 mm (12 in)

Sabah weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Sabah, Malaysia in December?

In December, Sabah, Malaysia generally has mixed weather conditions. Kota Kinabalu sees daytime temperatures near 29°C (84°F), with nights cooling to roughly 24°C (75°F).

What is the average temperature in Sabah, Malaysia in December?

Kota Kinabalu averages a daytime maximum of 29°C (84°F) in December, with overnight lows close to 24°C (75°F).

Does Sabah, Malaysia get a lot of rain in December?

Rainfall in Sabah, Malaysia peaks during December. Kota Kinabalu averages roughly 255 mm (10 in), so frequent and sometimes heavy showers are the norm.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Sabah, Malaysia?

In our opinion, December may not be the ideal time to visit Sabah, Malaysia due to the typically mixed weather in Kota Kinabalu.

Generally speaking, February provides very good weather in Kota Kinabalu. On the other hand, the weather in May, June, July, August, September, October and November tend to be less favorable.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Sabah.

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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