AI-generatedKota Kinabalu at a glance
- Best time
- Nov – Mar
- Warmest month
- May · 30°
- Warmest sea
- May · 30.2°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,100 h
- Rain a year
- 2,045 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC+8
- Elevation
- 5 m
Climate in Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. May is the warmest month with average highs of 30 °C, while January is the coolest at 28 °C. With around 2,100 hours of sunshine a year, Kota Kinabalu is moderately sunny; April is the sunniest month with 6.8 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: November – March
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 26°
- Midday, 13:00: about 28°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 28°
- Evening, 20:00: about 26°
- Night, 23:00: about 25°
06:0118:01
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:49–06:29 · evening 17:33–18:14
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:40–05:49 · evening 18:14–18:22
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Kota Kinabalu in October?
In October, Kota Kinabalu is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.6 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 25 days, totalling 224 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Kota Kinabalu.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 0 min06:01 – 18:01
- UV index
- 13 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 14 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 86 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 3 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+8Asia/Kuching
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %81 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %35 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Kota Kinabalu
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 29.2 – 30.0 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Kota Kinabalu ranges from 27.1 °C in February to 30.2 °C in May. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
From May to December the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in May, eight out of ten years were between 29.6 and 30.7 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 27.9° | 26.8° | 28.6° | warm |
| FebruaryFeb | 27.1° | 26.2° | 27.9° | warm |
| MarchMar | 27.6° | 27.0° | 28.5° | warm |
| AprilApr | 29.3° | 28.7° | 30.0° | very warm |
| MayMay | 30.2° | 29.6° | 30.7° | very warm |
| JuneJun | 30.2° | 29.6° | 30.7° | very warm |
| JulyJul | 30.0° | 29.7° | 30.3° | very warm |
| AugustAug | 30.0° | 29.6° | 30.3° | very warm |
| SeptemberSep | 29.8° | 29.4° | 30.3° | very warm |
| OctoberOct | 29.6° | 29.2° | 30.0° | very warm |
| NovemberNov | 29.4° | 28.9° | 30.1° | very warm |
| DecemberDec | 29.1° | 28.4° | 29.7° | very warm |
Sunshine hours in Kota Kinabalu
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 5.1 of 12.0 hours of daylight in Kota Kinabalu, 43 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Kota Kinabalu
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 13 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in September (UV 14).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 15 min
- Light brown skin
- about 20 min
- Olive skin
- about 25 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Kota Kinabalu: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Kota Kinabalu has about 25 rainy days with 224 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Kota Kinabalu
How breezy and how cloudy Kota Kinabalu is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Kota Kinabalu typically peaks at 14 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
The daily breeze rarely reaches Beaufort 4 (20 km/h), so wind sports depend on single windy days.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 86 % of the sky over Kota Kinabalu: mostly overcast, with about 5.1 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Kota Kinabalu
How often the day gets hot in Kota Kinabalu (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Kota Kinabalu has about 3 hot days, with an average daytime high of 29 °C: often muggy. The air feels warmer than the thermometer says: light, airy clothes and slow days help.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Kota Kinabalu
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
HotOctober: nights around 24°. Hot nights: air conditioning makes sleeping much easier. Muggy on about 31 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (24°), the warmest in May (25°). Nights stay tropical all year (20 °C and more), so a room with air conditioning or at least a fan pays off. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 365 days a year, mostly all year round.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 50 | 28° | 24° | 27.9° | 5.1 h | 21 | 205 |
| FebruaryFeb | 54 | 28° | 24° | 27.1° | 5.8 h | 16 | 113 |
| MarchMar | 50 | 29° | 24° | 27.6° | 6.5 h | 18 | 128 |
| AprilApr | 48 | 29° | 25° | 29.3° | 6.8 h | 21 | 132 |
| MayMay | 45 | 30° | 25° | 30.2° | 6.2 h | 22 | 175 |
| JuneJun | 44 | 29° | 25° | 30.2° | 5.6 h | 18 | 159 |
| JulyJul | 48 | 29° | 24° | 30.0° | 5.8 h | 17 | 138 |
| AugustAug | 48 | 29° | 24° | 30.0° | 6.0 h | 17 | 160 |
| SeptemberSep | 45 | 29° | 24° | 29.8° | 5.5 h | 19 | 164 |
| OctoberOct | 48 | 29° | 24° | 29.6° | 5.1 h | 25 | 224 |
| NovemberNov | 49 | 28° | 24° | 29.4° | 5.2 h | 26 | 230 |
| DecemberDec | 50 | 28° | 24° | 29.1° | 5.3 h | 26 | 217 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
5.97° N, 116.07° E · 5 m · Asia/Kuching
Best time to visit Kota Kinabalu
The best time to visit Kota Kinabalu is from November to March. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in May it only reaches 30.2 °C. The wettest month is November with 230 mm of precipitation.
Kota Kinabalu through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Kota Kinabalu in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 29–30 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 61 rainy days in all
Kota Kinabalu in summer
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 52 rainy days in all
Kota Kinabalu in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 28–29 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 69 rainy days in all
Kota Kinabalu in winter
Dec – Feb
Fair
- 28 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 63 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Kota Kinabalu for you.
Your best months: January – February, November
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Kota Kinabalu
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
February has the better holiday weather in Kota Kinabalu: score 54 against 48. In February, days are 1 °C cooler than in October. The sea is 2 °C cooler in February. February has 9 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in February.
| Month | October | February |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 48 | 54better |
| Day high | 29° | 28° |
| Night low | 24° | 24° |
| Sea | 29.6° | 27.1° |
| Sunshine | 5.1 h | 5.8 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 25 | 16better |
| Rainfall | 224 mm | 113 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 31 | 28better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
No month
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
All year
12 or more rainy days
Kota Kinabalu month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
50January28° · Sea 28° · 5 h
In January, Kota Kinabalu is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 27.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 21 days, totalling 205 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is a so-so month for a holiday in Kota Kinabalu.
Kota Kinabalu in January54February28° · Sea 27° · 6 h
In February, Kota Kinabalu is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 27.1 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 16 days, totalling 113 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is a so-so month for a holiday in Kota Kinabalu.
Kota Kinabalu in February50March29° · Sea 28° · 7 h
In March, Kota Kinabalu is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 27.6 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 18 days, totalling 128 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is a so-so month for a holiday in Kota Kinabalu.
Kota Kinabalu in March48April29° · Sea 29° · 7 h
In April, Kota Kinabalu is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.3 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 21 days, totalling 132 mm. On about 6 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Kota Kinabalu.
Kota Kinabalu in April45May30° · Sea 30° · 6 h
In May, Kota Kinabalu is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 30.2 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 22 days, totalling 175 mm. On about 10 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Kota Kinabalu.
Kota Kinabalu in May44June29° · Sea 30° · 6 h
In June, Kota Kinabalu is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 30.2 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 18 days, totalling 159 mm. On about 9 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Kota Kinabalu.
Kota Kinabalu in June48July29° · Sea 30° · 6 h
In July, Kota Kinabalu is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 30.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 17 days, totalling 138 mm. On about 10 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Kota Kinabalu.
Kota Kinabalu in July48August29° · Sea 30° · 6 h
In August, Kota Kinabalu is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 30.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 17 days, totalling 160 mm. On about 11 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Kota Kinabalu.
Kota Kinabalu in August45September29° · Sea 30° · 6 h
In September, Kota Kinabalu is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.8 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 19 days, totalling 164 mm. On about 7 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Kota Kinabalu.
Kota Kinabalu in September48October29° · Sea 30° · 5 h
In October, Kota Kinabalu is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.6 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 25 days, totalling 224 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Kota Kinabalu.
Kota Kinabalu in October49November28° · Sea 29° · 5 h
In November, Kota Kinabalu is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.4 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 26 days, totalling 230 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is a so-so month for a holiday in Kota Kinabalu.
Kota Kinabalu in November50December28° · Sea 29° · 5 h
In December, Kota Kinabalu is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.1 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 26 days, totalling 217 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is a so-so month for a holiday in Kota Kinabalu.
Kota Kinabalu in DecemberKota Kinabalu compared
Put Kota Kinabalu side by side with another destination.
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Kota Kinabalu vs. Labuan
In October the holiday weather in Kota Kinabalu and Labuan is about equally good (score 48 vs. 44). During the day it is about as warm in Labuan as in Kota Kinabalu. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Kota Kinabalu | Labuan |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 48 | 44 |
| Daytime high | 29° | 29° |
| Sea | 30° | 30° |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 25 | 26 |
| Best time | Nov – Mar | All year |
Through the year
Malaysia in October: the best places
In October, Kota Kinabalu ranks 3 of 9 destinations in this country.
- Labuan29°30°68
- 2Langkawi (Kuah)29°30°66
- 3Kota KinabaluThis page29°30°48
- 4Malacca29°30°45
- 5Johor29°30°43
- 6Putrajaya30°42
- 7Kuala Lumpur30°40
- 8George Town29°30°40
Planning a trip to Kota Kinabalu
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Kota Kinabalu in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Kota Kinabalu has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 50) and its weakest during May half-term (score 45).
- 49
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 6.7 h of sun a day
- 20 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 45
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 6.1 h of sun a day
- 22 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 48
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 5.9 h of sun a day
- 17 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 48
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 5.1 h of sun a day
- 25 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 50
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
FairBest holidays
- 28 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 5.2 h of sun a day
- 23 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 14 h 5 min
- Distance
- 11,260 km
- Time zone
- UTC+8
- Jet lag
- About 7 days (7 h east)
Rule of thumb for flying east: for a few days before, go to bed and get up a little earlier, and get plenty of morning light at your destination.
Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Kota Kinabalu
When is the best time to visit Kota Kinabalu?
The best time to visit Kota Kinabalu is from November to March. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Kota Kinabalu?
The sea temperature in Kota Kinabalu ranges from 27.1 °C in February to 30.2 °C in May. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Kota Kinabalu in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 29.6 °C – almost as warm as a bath.
What is the warmest month in Kota Kinabalu?
May is the warmest month, with average highs of 30 °C and nights around 25 °C. January is the coolest month at 28 °C.
When does it rain most in Kota Kinabalu?
The wettest month is November with 230 mm of precipitation. The driest month is February with 113 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Kota Kinabalu get?
Kota Kinabalu gets around 2,100 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is April with 6.8 hours a day; in January there are 5.1 hours a day.
What time zone is Kota Kinabalu in?
Kota Kinabalu uses the time zone Asia/Kuching, at UTC+8 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Kota Kinabalu?
A nonstop flight from London to Kota Kinabalu takes about 14 h 5 min, for a straight-line distance of about 11,260 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Which school holidays are best for Kota Kinabalu?
Kota Kinabalu has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 50) and its weakest during May half-term (score 45). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 49, May half-term 45, Summer holidays 48, October half-term 48, Christmas holidays 50.
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