Kota Kinabalu weather in December
Temperature, sea and sunshine in December: long-term averages from 30 years of weather data, not a forecast.
Holiday weather in December
Fair
Best time to visit: November – March
What is the weather like in Kota Kinabalu in December?
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.
December compared
How the weather changes from November to January. Tap a month to open it.
| NovemberNov | DecemberDec | JanuaryJan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 49 | 50 | 50 |
| Day | 28° | 28° | 28° |
| Night | 24° | 24° | 24° |
| Sea | 29° | 29° | 28° |
| Sun | 5 h | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rain days | 26 | 26 | 21 |
More details for December
- Daylight
- 11 h 47 min06:17 – 18:04
- UV index
- 10 · very highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 13 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 83 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 1 day30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+8Asia/Kuching
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %84 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %38 %
- 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 December
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Kota Kinabalu in December: quick answers
Is Kota Kinabalu hot in December?
Yes. In December, Kota Kinabalu is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C and nights stay around 24 °C.
Can you swim in Kota Kinabalu in December?
Yes. In December the sea averages 29.1 °C – almost as warm as a bath.
Does it rain much in Kota Kinabalu in December?
It rains often – on about 26 days, adding up to 217 mm.
Kota Kinabalu month by month
The whole year in Kota KinabaluAll destinations: MalaysiaWhere to go in DecemberSea temperature in December
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