Weather in May in Sabah
Planning a trip to Sabah this May? Here's what you need to know about the weather:
What is the weather like in Sabah in May?
Sabah is a region in Malaysia. May 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 Kampong Kundassan at 30°C to very warm in Sandakan at 34°C. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 24°C in Sandakan and 20°C in Kampong Kundassan. 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 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 to heavy rainfall in Bilit with 249 mm.Average sunshine
The days are mostly sunny, with an average total of around 229 hours of sunshine in Kota Kinabalu. The sunlight during this month doesn't just make the days brighter, it also seems to make everyone a bit more cheerful.For an in-depth overview of the yearly conditions, do visit our Sabah climate page.
Where to go in Sabah in May
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor
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 May for the 5 most popular destinations in Sabah?
Kota Kinabalu
In May Kota Kinabalu generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Max temperature
Max temp
Min temperature
Min temp
Monthly sun hours
Sun hours
Monthly rainfall
Rainfall
Monthly rainy days
Rainy days
Weather conditions
Weather
Sandakan
In May Sandakan generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 34°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Max temperature
Max temp
Min temperature
Min temp
Monthly sun hours
Sun hours
Monthly rainfall
Rainfall
Monthly rainy days
Rainy days
Weather conditions
Weather
Ranau
In May Ranau generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 20°C and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.
Max temperature
Max temp
Min temperature
Min temp
Monthly sun hours
Sun hours
Monthly rainfall
Rainfall
Monthly rainy days
Rainy days
Weather conditions
Weather
Bilit
In May Bilit generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 34°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Max temperature
Max temp
Min temperature
Min temp
Monthly sun hours
Sun hours
Monthly rainfall
Rainfall
Monthly rainy days
Rainy days
Weather conditions
Weather
Sepilok
In May Sepilok generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 33°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Max temperature
Max temp
Min temperature
Min temp
Monthly sun hours
Sun hours
Monthly rainfall
Rainfall
Monthly rainy days
Rainy days
Weather conditions
Weather
Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at other destinations in Sabah, in Malaysia.
Is May the best time to visit Sabah?
Given the typically poor weather conditions in Kota Kinabalu, May 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. On the other hand, the months of 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.