Kundasang

Sabah Weather in May

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

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Kota Kinabalu Sandakan Ranau Semporna

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

What to Expect in Sabah in May

Sabah, Malaysia is a region in Malaysia. In May, Sabah experiences a range of weather conditions, with temperatures that range from warm to very warm and 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 25°C (77°F) to very warm in Sandakan at 34°C (93°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 24°C (75°F) in Sandakan and 17°C (63°F) in Kundasang. The temperatures mentioned for both day and night are typical averages. However some days might get even hotter. It's best to stay prepared by wearing cloths suitable for the warmth.

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

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From high rainfall in Kudat with an average of 124 mm (4.9 in) to heavy rainfall in Kundasang with 282 mm (11 in).

Average sunshine

Plenty of sunshine can be expected in numerous places in May. Kota Kinabalu typically receives 229 hours of sunlight, making it 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)

January29°C (84°F) February29°C (84°F) March30°C (86°F) April30°C (86°F) May31°C (88°F) June30°C (86°F) This monthJuly30°C (86°F) August30°C (86°F) September30°C (86°F) October30°C (86°F) November30°C (86°F) December29°C (84°F)
Best Time to Visit Sabah →

Best Places to Visit in Sabah in May

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

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
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 May for some of the most popular destinations in Sabah, Malaysia?

Temperature range in Sabah (May)

Precipitation variation in Sabah (May)

Kota Kinabalu

In May Kota Kinabalu generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
31°C (88°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
247 hours
229 hours
198 hours
Monthly rainfall
173 mm (6.8 in)
210 mm (8.3 in)
222 mm (8.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
18 days
18 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
poor
poor
Climate in Kota Kinabalu →

Sandakan

In May Sandakan generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 34°C (93°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
34°C (93°F)
34°C (93°F)
34°C (93°F)
Min temperature
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly sun hours
226 hours
202 hours
202 hours
Monthly rainfall
185 mm (7.3 in)
249 mm (9.8 in)
259 mm (10 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
14 days
16 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Sandakan →

Ranau

In May Ranau generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 20°C (68°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
31°C (88°F)
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
20°C (68°F)
20°C (68°F)
19°C (66°F)
Monthly sun hours
247 hours
229 hours
198 hours
Monthly rainfall
155 mm (6.1 in)
197 mm (7.8 in)
196 mm (7.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
19 days
19 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
unpleasant
unpleasant
Climate in Ranau →

Semporna

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

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
Monthly rainfall
171 mm (6.7 in)
219 mm (8.6 in)
221 mm (8.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
15 days
16 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
poor
poor
Climate in Semporna →

Bilit

In May Bilit generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 34°C (93°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
34°C (93°F)
34°C (93°F)
33°C (91°F)
Min temperature
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly sun hours
226 hours
202 hours
202 hours
Monthly rainfall
189 mm (7.4 in)
249 mm (9.8 in)
249 mm (9.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
14 days
16 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Bilit →

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

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Sabah in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Kota Kinabalu 31°C (88°F) 25°C (77°F) 210 mm (8.3 in)
Sandakan 34°C (93°F) 24°C (75°F) 249 mm (9.8 in)
Ranau 30°C (86°F) 20°C (68°F) 197 mm (7.8 in)
Semporna 31°C (88°F) 26°C (79°F) 219 mm (8.6 in)
Bilit 34°C (93°F) 24°C (75°F) 249 mm (9.8 in)
Sepilok 33°C (91°F) 25°C (77°F) 211 mm (8.3 in)

Sabah weather in May: frequently asked questions

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

Expect poor weather across Sabah, Malaysia in May. The popular destination of Kota Kinabalu averages 31°C (88°F) by day and 25°C (77°F) at night during this month.

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

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

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

Expect plenty of rainfall. Kota Kinabalu records an average of 210 mm (8.3 in) in May, putting it among the wetter months for Sabah, Malaysia.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Sabah, Malaysia?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Kota Kinabalu, May 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. On the other hand, the months of 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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