Kota Kinabalu weather in January
Temperature, sea and sunshine in January: long-term averages from 30 years of weather data, not a forecast.
Holiday weather in January
Fair
Best time to visit: November – March
What is the weather like in Kota Kinabalu in January?
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.
January compared
How the weather changes from December to February. Tap a month to open it.
| DecemberDec | JanuaryJan | FebruaryFeb | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 50 | 50 | 54 |
| Day | 28° | 28° | 28° |
| Night | 24° | 24° | 24° |
| Sea | 29° | 28° | 27° |
| Sun | 5 h | 5 h | 6 h |
| Rain days | 26 | 21 | 16 |
More details for January
- Daylight
- 11 h 49 min06:30 – 18:19
- UV index
- 10 · very highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 14 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 81 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 1 day30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+8Asia/Kuching
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %86 %
- 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 January
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Kota Kinabalu in January: quick answers
Is Kota Kinabalu hot in January?
Yes. In January, Kota Kinabalu is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C and nights stay around 24 °C.
Can you swim in Kota Kinabalu in January?
Yes. In January the sea averages 27.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming.
Does it rain much in Kota Kinabalu in January?
It rains often – on about 21 days, adding up to 205 mm.
Kota Kinabalu month by month
The whole year in Kota KinabaluAll destinations: MalaysiaWhere to go in JanuarySea temperature in January
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