Weather in Kuala Lumpur and tourist seasons
Kuala Lumpur stays steamy hot all year
The weather in Kuala Lumpur is influenced by the city’s position merely 216 miles north of the equator, endowing it with a wet and humid maritime tropical climate. There is sporadic rainfall all through the year of varying intensity depending upon the month in question.
And this means that there is no bad time to visit the city as Kuala Lumpur weather is relatively stable. And wherever you find yourself in the city when a downpour occurs there's always somewhere comfortable to wait out the worst of it, with comfortable air conditioned shopping malls, restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars to welcome in stranded tourists for refreshments.
On average the weather in Kuala Lumpur remains a fairly constant 28°C – 36°C during the day and 25°C – 28°C during the night. However, it can get a little more chilly following a prolonged period of heavy rain. The city’s position surrounded by mountainous valleys means the weather in Kuala Lumpur is largely unaffected by high monsoon winds and a little cooler than the rest of the country.
But this is a very wet city by any standards with humidity remaining on average at around 80 per cent. The worst time of the year in this respect is from October until March while sporadic rainstorms can strike at any time. The very short dry spell lasts from May until July although there is still no guarantee of uninterrupted sunshine, and any trips to parks should be planned with a meteorologist's blessing.
Kuala Lumpur weather by month
But rainclouds are never far away in KL
Weather in Kuala Lumpur in January
The weather in KL is generally pretty damp and humid during January, so it makes sense to keep close to some air conditioned shopping malls wherever possible for a refreshing blast of air-conditioning.
Weather in Kuala Lumpur in February
February sees Kuala Lumpur weather take a turn for the worst as the rains begin to come in force and sitting outdoors for a prolonged periods is unwise without an umbrella by your side. Use the metro to escape the midday extreme heat.
Weather in Kuala Lumpur in March
Once again the weather in Kuala Lumpur continues to get wetter as ever more downpours are expected. Getting taxis at this time of year can be a struggle and watch out for accidental soakings as traffic whizzes through overflowing gutters.
Weather in Kuala Lumpur in April
Kuala Lumpur weather in April can become unbearably wet as this is the peak of the rainy season. Average rainfall can top 30cm at this time with flash flooding a perennial issue when drains get backlogged with debris.
Weather in Kuala Lumpur in May
By May the situation has lessened somewhat but there are still torrential downpours daily. Be careful when crossing the road as cars can career out of control mowing down pedestrians. It is the most oppressive month with 97 per cent humidity.
Weather in Kuala Lumpur in June
From June the weather in KL becomes much more bearable with the second lowest amount of rainfall of any month. Even so there are still around 13 wet days so it is wise not to stray too far from shelter.
Weather in Kuala Lumpur in July
July is considered the best month for Kuala Lumpur weather as it is the only time when average rainfall dips below an average of 10cm. It is still extremely hot and humid, however, so walking long distances can be tough.
Weather in Kuala Lumpur in August
August weather in Kuala Lumpur sees the start of the second Malaysian monsoon season and the number and frequency of downpours rises significantly. Temperatures are still in the high 90°C area so remember to carry a bottle of water with you at all times.
Weather in Kuala Lumpur in September
As the monsoon intensifies the weather in KL during September gets worse. Downpours are mainly confined to later in the day so it pays to get up early and get your sightseeing done after breakfast. Then perhaps enjoy an nice spa treatment during the afternoon drizzle.
Weather in Kuala Lumpur in October
October weather in Kuala Lumpur can be hazardous due to the haze that descends on the city from the slack and burn activities of farmers on nearby land. This think smoke mixes with the heavy precipitation in the air to form a thick smog which reduces visibility to just a few hundred metres.
Weather in Kuala Lumpur in November
November in Kuala Lumpur means more heavy downpours as two-thirds of days come with considerable deluges of rain. However, the temperatures remain constantly high so there is no real respite from the searing tropical heat.
Weather in Kuala Lumpur in December
December is slightly better for weather in KL as the skies lighten slightly and locals spend more times in the parks and outdoor café terraces. But as this is the most popular month for visitors to Thailand so many people travel north to where it is considerably drier.
