Kundasang

Sabah Weather in January

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

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

What to Expect in Sabah in January

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

Temperatures

Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is warm in Kundasang at 23°C (73°F) to very warm in Bilit at 31°C (88°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 23°C (73°F) in Bilit and 17°C (63°F) in Kundasang.

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

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From high rainfall in Mantanani Island with an average of 152 mm (6 in) to heavy rainfall in Sepilok with 304 mm (12 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is moderately available across various locations. In Kota Kinabalu, you can expect around 188 hours of sunlight in January, which gives a pleasant combination of sun and shade. For those who want maximum sunshine, our weather planner can point you toward the sunniest places on Earth.

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 January

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 January for some of the most popular destinations in Sabah, Malaysia?

Temperature range in Sabah (January)

Precipitation variation in Sabah (January)

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

Sandakan

In January Sandakan generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 23°C (73°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
32°C (90°F)
31°C (88°F)
32°C (90°F)
Min temperature
24°C (75°F)
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly sun hours
211 hours
251 hours
231 hours
Monthly rainfall
301 mm (12 in)
296 mm (12 in)
247 mm (9.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
25 days
24 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Ranau

In January Ranau generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 19°C (66°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
28°C (82°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
19°C (66°F)
19°C (66°F)
19°C (66°F)
Monthly sun hours
198 hours
188 hours
196 hours
Monthly rainfall
209 mm (8.2 in)
189 mm (7.4 in)
152 mm (6 in)
Monthly rainy days
23 days
20 days
15 days
Weather conditions

Semporna

In January Semporna generally has 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.

December
January
February
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
224 mm (8.8 in)
212 mm (8.3 in)
163 mm (6.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
21 days
16 days
Weather conditions

Bilit

In January Bilit generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 23°C (73°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
32°C (90°F)
31°C (88°F)
32°C (90°F)
Min temperature
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly sun hours
211 hours
251 hours
231 hours
Monthly rainfall
280 mm (11 in)
273 mm (11 in)
240 mm (9.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
24 days
24 days
17 days
Weather conditions

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Kota Kinabalu 29°C (84°F) 24°C (75°F) 200 mm (7.9 in)
Sandakan 31°C (88°F) 23°C (73°F) 296 mm (12 in)
Ranau 28°C (82°F) 19°C (66°F) 189 mm (7.4 in)
Semporna 30°C (86°F) 25°C (77°F) 212 mm (8.3 in)
Bilit 31°C (88°F) 23°C (73°F) 273 mm (11 in)
Sepilok 30°C (86°F) 24°C (75°F) 304 mm (12 in)

Sabah weather in January: frequently asked questions

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

Expect unpleasant weather across Sabah, Malaysia in January. The popular destination of Kota Kinabalu averages 29°C (84°F) by day and 24°C (75°F) at night during this month.

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

In Kota Kinabalu, the average daytime high in January is 29°C (84°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 24°C (75°F).

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

Yes. January brings heavy rainfall to Sabah, Malaysia, with Kota Kinabalu averaging around 200 mm (7.9 in). Expect frequent showers and pack accordingly.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Sabah, Malaysia?

Given the typically unpleasant weather conditions in Kota Kinabalu, January may not be the ideal time to visit Sabah, Malaysia.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in February offering mostly pleasant weather in Kota Kinabalu. In contrast, May, June, July, August, September, October and November tend to have poor weather conditions.

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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