Kuching

Sarawak Weather in January

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

Are you planning a trip a to Sarawak, Malaysia in January and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in Sarawak in January

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

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from warm in Santubong at 29°C (84°F) to very warm in Sibu at 31°C (88°F). At night it cools down to 23°C (73°F) in Sibu and 25°C (77°F) in Santubong. These night and day temperatures are average and some days may be even warmer. So be prepared and dress for the heat.

For specific regional insights in Sarawak, Malaysia, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From heavy rainfall in Miri with an average of 223 mm (8.8 in) to heavy rainfall in Santubong with 447 mm (18 in).

Average sunshine

Most places get a reasonable amount of sunshine. Take Kuching as an example - it receives around 128 hours of sunlight, offering a nice mix of sunny and partly cloudy days. Want to compare this with brighter destinations? Try our weather planner to explore your options.

Explore Sarawak by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Sarawak — and find the best time to visit. (based on Kuching)

Best Places to Visit in Sarawak in January

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

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 Sarawak

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Sarawak, Malaysia?

Temperature range in Sarawak (January)

Precipitation variation in Sarawak (January)

Kuching

In January Kuching 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
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly sun hours
139 hours
128 hours
139 hours
Monthly rainfall
430 mm (17 in)
426 mm (17 in)
349 mm (14 in)
Monthly rainy days
30 days
29 days
24 days
Weather conditions

Miri

In January Miri generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
188 hours
171 hours
173 hours
Monthly rainfall
305 mm (12 in)
223 mm (8.8 in)
148 mm (5.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
26 days
23 days
16 days
Weather conditions

Sibu

In January Sibu 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
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly sun hours
151 hours
135 hours
133 hours
Monthly rainfall
353 mm (14 in)
320 mm (13 in)
273 mm (11 in)
Monthly rainy days
29 days
29 days
22 days
Weather conditions

Santubong

In January Santubong generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°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)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
139 hours
128 hours
139 hours
Monthly rainfall
416 mm (16 in)
447 mm (18 in)
340 mm (13 in)
Monthly rainy days
30 days
29 days
24 days
Weather conditions

Semadang

In January Semadang generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°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
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly sun hours
139 hours
128 hours
139 hours
Monthly rainfall
342 mm (13 in)
355 mm (14 in)
302 mm (12 in)
Monthly rainy days
24 days
24 days
22 days
Weather conditions

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Kuching 31°C (88°F) 23°C (73°F) 426 mm (17 in)
Miri 29°C (84°F) 25°C (77°F) 223 mm (8.8 in)
Sibu 31°C (88°F) 23°C (73°F) 320 mm (13 in)
Santubong 29°C (84°F) 25°C (77°F) 447 mm (18 in)
Semadang 29°C (84°F) 23°C (73°F) 355 mm (14 in)
Bintulu 31°C (88°F) 24°C (75°F) 317 mm (12 in)

Sarawak weather in January: frequently asked questions

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

Expect poor weather across Sarawak, Malaysia in January. The popular destination of Kuching averages 31°C (88°F) by day and 23°C (73°F) at night during this month.

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

Daytime temperatures in Kuching peak at roughly 31°C (88°F) in January, dropping to about 23°C (73°F) overnight.

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

Expect plenty of rainfall. Kuching records an average of 426 mm (17 in) in January, putting it among the wetter months for Sarawak, Malaysia.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Sarawak, Malaysia?

In our view, January might not be the best time to travel to Sarawak, Malaysia with often poor weather in Kuching.

Generally speaking, provide poor weather in Kuching.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Sarawak.

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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