Weather in January in Sabah
Planning a trip to Sabah this January? Here's what you need to know about the weather:
What is the weather like in Sabah in January?
Sabah is a region in Malaysia. January in Sabah generally has temperatures that range from warm to very warm, with heavy precipitation.
Temperatures
Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is warm in Ranau at 28°C to very warm in Bilit at 31°C. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 23°C in Bilit and 19°C in Ranau.For a closer look at conditions across Sabah, refer to the map below.
Precipitation
In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From heavy rainfall in Gaya Island with an average of 168 mm to heavy rainfall in Sepilok with 304 mm.Average sunshine
The city Kota Kinabalu usually sees around 188 hours of sunlight, indicating a moderately sunny period.For an in-depth overview of the yearly conditions, do visit our Sabah climate page.
Where to go in Sabah in January
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Select a Month of Interest
Check the conditions for any month of the year.
For a detailed overview over the year and the best time to visit Malaysia, check out our Sabah's climate page.
Popular destinations
What is the weather like in January for the 5 most popular destinations in Sabah?
Kota Kinabalu
In January Kota Kinabalu generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.
Sandakan
In January Sandakan generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 23°C and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Ranau
In January Ranau generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 19°C and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.
Bilit
In January Bilit generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 23°C and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Sepilok
In January Sepilok generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at other destinations in Sabah, in Malaysia.
Is January the best time to visit Sabah?
Given the typically unpleasant weather conditions in Kota Kinabalu, January may not be the ideal time to visit Sabah.
Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in February offering mostly pleasant weather in Kota Kinabalu. In contrast, May, June, 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.