Before you plan your trip to Malaysia you will need to know what the weather in Malaysia will be like.
We just returned from 6 weeks in the beautiful country and did not know the best times to visit.
Conditions were at times almost hazardous due to the Sumatran fires that blow over Malaysia due to trade winds.
Who would have known that almost the whole Indonesian country burns in September, causing limited visibility and hazardous conditions.
What is the Best Time to Go to Malaysia?
Don’t visit during September that’s for sure because the weather in Malaysia is terrible.
The smoke can be horrendous, toxic and hazardous. Especially for people who have allergies or breathing problems.
Conditions change from day to day depending on the winds, we had good weather for a while but it can change at any time.
Be warned, if you don’t like stinging eyes and breathing in smoke plan your trip for a different time.
December to February is generally the best time to visit Malaysia but this is also the busiest time of year. Average temperatures at this time of year range from 26 – 29 degrees Celcius.
The weather varies from place to place in Malaysia because of its different topography and trade winds.
What is the Rainy Season in Malaysia?
The wet season is also different on West and East coasts. West Coast has it’s rainy season from April to October and the islands affected by this are Penang and Langkawi.
Try to avoid the West coast during these months unless you love it wet. (Mainly thunderstorms that only last for a couple of hours, then the sun comes back out.)
East Coast is wettest from November to February but the rains come in as thunderstorms and don’t tend to stay for long. During these downpours, you will be saturated from head to toe.
A lot of accommodation is closed during the wet seasons so make sure you check the accommodation website before booking.
What is the Coldest Month in Malaysia?
December, in general, is the coldest month in Malaysia hitting a low of around 28 degrees Celcius. Hardly cold but you will experience less humidity around this time of year.
If you are chasing colder climates try heading up to the Cameron Highlands district. Here the temperatures at night can drop to 15 degrees Celcius.
Is Malaysia Hot or Cold?
Weather in Malaysia is tropical all year round and because of it’s proximity to water, it is quite humid.
The weather is never too hot and average temperatures of between 20 – 30 degrees are the norm.
Saying that March through to June are the hottest months of the year because it is summer in the Northern hemisphere.
Cameron Highlands drops to 15 degree’s most nights of the year with tops of 24 degree’s, but the coldest time is generally January.
Expected Weather for Popular Destinations in Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur Weather
Best time to visit Kuala Lumpur is from May to July and December to February. These times of the year is when humidity is at it’s lowest and rain is sparse. (It can rain at any time of year, so be prepared)
The worst time to visit Kuala Lumpur is from March to April because these are the wettest months and quite humid.
Malacca Weather
Best time to visit Malacca are during the months of April, May and October. This is the dry season but weather in Malacca is hot and humid all year round.
The worst time to visit Malacca is March to April, October to November because these are the wettest months with the highest humidity. While May and June are the hottest months of the year so try to avoid these months.
Johor Bahru Weather
Best time to visit Johor Bahru is roughly from April to October when the area is at it’s driest. Temperatures roughly stay the same year-round because of the proximity to the equator.
The worst time to visit Johor Bahru is from November to February when the monsoon season kicks in. Thunderstorms are frequent during this time so try to avoid.
December is the busiest time of year which can make visiting Legoland Malaysia and water park very busy with long queues.
Ipoh Weather
Best time to visit Ipoh is in January to February and May to September. This time of year is warm and less rainfall than other months. February is ideal to explore the city.
The worst time to visit Ipoh is May, June and April because these are the hottest times of the year and September to January are the wettest months.
Cameron Highlands Weather
Best time to visit Cameron Highlands is basically year-round because the climate up there stays around the 15 – 24 degrees mark. But if you want to see the area at it’s greenest then November and February are the best due to better rainfall in October.
July is the driest month and May is the warmest.
The worst time to visit Cameron Highlands is during school holiday’s, weekends and festive holiday’s. These times can be very busy with locals and tourists so expect traffic congestion and higher prices.
Penang Weather
Best time to visit Penang is between November to February during the peak season. It can be busy but the humidity is less so great for exploring the island.
Penang has a tropical climate all year round so expect little change in temperatures.
The worst time to visit Penang is in April, May, September, October and mid-November. These are the heaviest rainfall months as well September – October can have a lot of haze due to the fires in Sumatra. March is the hottest month with the highest humidity levels.
Langkawi Weather
Best time to visit Langkawi is January to March because this is the dry season and the skies are blue and clear. It hardly rains during this period but is busy due to the holiday season in Malaysia.
April to August is the midseason with occasional rain and cloudy skies but fewer tourists, so also a good time to visit with temperatures below 30 degrees Celcius.
The worst time to visit Langkawi is September to October which is the wet season and when the winds blow from the South West. The Southwest monsoon can blow smoke from Sumatra towards the island diminishing the visibility.
Rain’s usually only last for a couple of hours and the temperatures are cooler than other times of the year.
Malaysian Borneo Weather
Best time to visit Malaysia Borneo is from March and October because this is the dry season and the best time to see Orangutans. You should expect high humidity and rain at any time of the year but these months are the best.
July and August have the best visibility for diving, March to May is the best time to see Whale sharks and June to September is the best time to see turtles on the islands (Lankayan Island).
Temperatures are cooler during March and October compared with December and February.
The worst time to visit Malaysia Borneo is January and December because of the higher rainfall and rougher sea conditions due to the Northeast Monsoon.
Perhentian Islands
Best time to visit the Perhentian Islands is from March to November when the rains are minimal and low winds. This is the East coast dry season and the best time of year for diving due to terrific water visibility.
July is peak season so expect higher prices and tourists.
The worst time to visit Perhentian Island is during November, December and January. During this time most businesses are closed.
The whole of the Eastern Malaysian Peninsular is to be avoided at this time of year due to rough conditions and heavier rainfall.
Enjoy Malaysia and it’s Weather
Visiting the amazing country of Malaysia is just a beautiful experience any time of year because of the people and diverse cultures.
Our family of 6 toured Malaysia at the wrong time of year and loved it, so if you have no expectations and are open-minded your experience will be mind-blowing.
Enjoy the country of Malaysia and it’s diverse weather patterns no matter what happens.
How to Get from George Town to Langkawi (and back again)