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Best time to visit Kota Kinabalu: month by month
Short answer
KK is hot and humid all year, with highs of about 28–30°C and rain on 18–27 days a month, usually as short heavy showers. Roughly March to October is generally better for the islands and diving, with calmer seas; October to January is the wettest period in the data. Sabah lies south of the typhoon belt, so storms are rare.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°C | 23°C | 26 | medium |
| Feb | 28°C | 23°C | 18 | high |
| Mar | 29°C | 23°C | 25 | medium |
| Apr | 30°C | 24°C | 19 | medium |
| May | 30°C | 25°C | 22 | high |
| Jun | 30°C | 25°C | 21 | high |
| Jul | 30°C | 24°C | 18 | high |
| Aug | 30°C | 25°C | 22 | high |
| Sep | 29°C | 24°C | 23 | medium |
| Oct | 29°C | 24°C | 27 | low |
| Nov | 29°C | 24°C | 26 | low |
| Dec | 29°C | 24°C | 24 | high |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Highs of about 29–30°C and lows of 23–25°C; April is one of the drier months (about 19 rainy days). The Kaamatan harvest festival is in May.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Highs of about 30°C and lows of 24–25°C, with rain on 18–22 days a month; July is among the drier months. A good time for the islands and Kinabalu.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Highs of about 29°C, but the wettest period begins: about 23 rainy days in September and 26–27 in October and November, with more cloud on the mountain.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Highs of 28–29°C and frequent rain in December and January (24–26 rainy days); February is drier (about 18). Seas can be rougher, and Chinese New Year brings local crowds.
Events worth planning around
- Gaya Street Sunday Market (every Sunday morning)
- Chinese New Year (January or February, depending on the lunar calendar)
- Kaamatan, the Kadazan-Dusun harvest festival, celebrated through May and peaking at the end of the month
When to avoid
October and November are usually the wettest months, with more cloud on Kinabalu and rougher water. Malaysian school holidays and long weekends fill the islands and Kundasang, so book ahead then.
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Common questions
What is the best month to visit Kota Kinabalu?
Roughly March to August, with April and July among the drier months in the data. May adds the Kaamatan festival.
Does it rain all the time in Kota Kinabalu?
Rain falls on many days, but usually as short heavy showers, often in the afternoon, with sunshine in between. October to January is the wettest.
When is the best time to climb Mount Kinabalu?
The drier months, roughly March to September, but places sell out then; book months ahead. Clouds usually cover the summit from mid-morning.