AI-generatedSandakan at a glance
- Best time
- Dec – Mar
- Warmest month
- May · 33°
- Warmest sea
- May · 30.0°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,200 h
- Rain a year
- 3,180 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC+8
- Elevation
- 10 m
Climate in Sandakan
Sandakan 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 33 °C, while January is the coolest at 30 °C. With around 2,200 hours of sunshine a year, Sandakan is sunny; April is the sunniest month with 7.0 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Sandakan
The best time to visit Sandakan is from December to March. The sea reaches 30.0 °C in May, but frequent rain gets in the way of a classic beach holiday. The wettest month is January with 332 mm of precipitation.
Sandakan through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Sandakan in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 31–33 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 6.7 h of sun a day
- 75 rainy days in all
Sandakan in summer
Jun – Aug
Poor
- 33 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 6.2 h of sun a day
- 80 rainy days in all
Sandakan in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 31–33 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 5.8 h of sun a day
- 85 rainy days in all
Sandakan in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 30 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 5.4 h of sun a day
- 81 rainy days in all
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
Rainy season or more than 12 rainy days
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Sandakan for you.
Your best months: December – February
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Weather in October
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: December – March
Where to go in OctoberSea temperature in October
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 27°
- Midday, 13:00: about 32°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 31°
- Evening, 20:00: about 28°
- Night, 23:00: about 26°
05:5317:53
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 05:40–06:21 · evening 17:25–18:06
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:32–05:40 · evening 18:06–18:14
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.
October in Sandakan compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs fall from about 32° at the start of the month to 31° at the end.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 32° | 31° |
| Night-time low | 24° | 24° |
| Sea | 30° | 30° |
| Daylight | 12.1 h | 11.9 h |
What is the weather like in Sandakan in October?
In October, Sandakan is hot: daytime highs average 32 °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 5.8 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 29 days, adding up to 303 mm. On about 30 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sandakan.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 0 min05:53 – 17:53
- UV index
- 13 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 9 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 85 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 30 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+8offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %39 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %47 %
- 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
- Water bottle – drink plenty
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Compare two months in Sandakan
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 Sandakan: score 40 against 29. In February, days are 2 °C cooler than in October. The sea is 2 °C cooler in February. February has 5 fewer rainy days.
| Month | October | February |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 29 | 40better |
| Daytime high | 32° | 30° |
| Night-time low | 24° | 25° |
| Sea | 29.8° | 28.3° |
| Sunshine | 5.8 h | 5.7 h |
| Rainy days | 29 | 24better |
| Rainfall | 303 mm | 228 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 31 | 28better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Sandakan month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
39January30° · Sea 28° · 5.1 h
In January, Sandakan is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.3 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 5.1 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 28 days, adding up to 332 mm. On about 14 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sandakan – and yet one of the best months here.
Sandakan in January40February30° · Sea 28° · 5.7 h
In February, Sandakan is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.3 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 5.7 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 24 days, adding up to 228 mm. On about 17 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is a so-so month for a holiday in Sandakan – and yet one of the best months here.
Sandakan in February36March31° · Sea 29° · 6.4 h
In March, Sandakan is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6.4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 25 days, adding up to 224 mm. On about 27 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sandakan – and yet one of the best months here.
Sandakan in March32April32° · Sea 30° · 7.0 h
In April, Sandakan is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.8 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 7.0 hours a day. It rains often – on about 23 days, adding up to 185 mm. On about 29 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sandakan.
Sandakan in April25May33° · Sea 30° · 6.7 h
In May, Sandakan is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 30.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 6.7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 27 days, adding up to 266 mm. The thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more every day. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sandakan.
Sandakan in May24June33° · Sea 30° · 6.2 h
In June, Sandakan is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.9 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6.2 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 27 days, adding up to 254 mm. The thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more every day. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sandakan.
Sandakan in June25July33° · Sea 30° · 6.1 h
In July, Sandakan is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.7 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6.1 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 26 days, adding up to 245 mm. The thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more every day. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sandakan.
Sandakan in July24August33° · Sea 30° · 6.4 h
In August, Sandakan is hot: daytime highs average 33 °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 6.4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 27 days, adding up to 244 mm. The thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more every day. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sandakan.
Sandakan in August25September33° · Sea 30° · 6.3 h
In September, Sandakan is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.9 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6.3 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 27 days, adding up to 274 mm. The thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more every day. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sandakan.
Sandakan in September29October32° · Sea 30° · 5.8 h
In October, Sandakan is hot: daytime highs average 32 °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 5.8 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 29 days, adding up to 303 mm. On about 30 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sandakan.
Sandakan in October32November31° · Sea 29° · 5.3 h
In November, Sandakan is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.4 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5.3 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 29 days, adding up to 311 mm. On about 27 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sandakan.
Sandakan in November36December30° · Sea 29° · 5.3 h
In December, Sandakan is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 5.3 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 29 days, adding up to 314 mm. On about 22 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sandakan – and yet one of the best months here.
Sandakan in DecemberClimate in detail
Year & climate table
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Sandakan
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 (15+ 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 September (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) all year, on about 365 days a year.
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 | 39 | 30° | 25° | 28.3° | 5.1 h | 28 | 332 |
| FebruaryFeb | 40 | 30° | 25° | 28.3° | 5.7 h | 24 | 228 |
| MarchMar | 36 | 31° | 25° | 29.0° | 6.4 h | 25 | 224 |
| AprilApr | 32 | 32° | 25° | 29.8° | 7.0 h | 23 | 185 |
| MayMay | 25 | 33° | 25° | 30.0° | 6.7 h | 27 | 266 |
| JuneJun | 24 | 33° | 25° | 29.9° | 6.2 h | 27 | 254 |
| JulyJul | 25 | 33° | 24° | 29.7° | 6.1 h | 26 | 245 |
| AugustAug | 24 | 33° | 24° | 29.8° | 6.4 h | 27 | 244 |
| SeptemberSep | 25 | 33° | 24° | 29.9° | 6.3 h | 27 | 274 |
| OctoberOct | 29 | 32° | 24° | 29.8° | 5.8 h | 29 | 303 |
| NovemberNov | 32 | 31° | 25° | 29.4° | 5.3 h | 29 | 311 |
| DecemberDec | 36 | 30° | 25° | 28.9° | 5.3 h | 29 | 314 |
Climate averages 1996–2025 (sunshine partly WMO station normals 1991–2020), 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
5.84° N, 118.12° E · 10 m · Asia/Kuching
Sea temperature
Sea temperature in Sandakan
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 29.4 – 30.3 °C
Swimming season: all year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Sandakan ranges from 28.3 °C in January to 30.0 °C in May. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
The sea temperature varies from year to year: in May, eight out of ten years were between 29.5 and 30.4 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 28.3° | 27.6° | 29.0° | warm |
| FebruaryFeb | 28.3° | 27.9° | 28.9° | warm |
| MarchMar | 29.0° | 28.5° | 29.5° | very warm |
| AprilApr | 29.8° | 29.1° | 30.3° | very warm |
| MayMay | 30.0° | 29.5° | 30.4° | very warm |
| JuneJun | 29.9° | 29.5° | 30.4° | very warm |
| JulyJul | 29.7° | 29.4° | 30.1° | very warm |
| AugustAug | 29.8° | 29.3° | 30.3° | very warm |
| SeptemberSep | 29.9° | 29.4° | 30.4° | very warm |
| OctoberOct | 29.8° | 29.4° | 30.3° | very warm |
| NovemberNov | 29.4° | 28.8° | 30.0° | very warm |
| DecemberDec | 28.9° | 28.2° | 29.4° | warm |
Sunshine
Sunshine hours in Sandakan
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 5.8 of 12.0 hours of daylight in Sandakan, 48 % of the daylight hours.
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.
Rain
Rain in Sandakan: 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, Sandakan has about 29 rainy days with 303 mm of rain in total.
UV index
UV index in Sandakan
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 the time, 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.
Wind & clouds
Wind and clouds in Sandakan
How breezy and how cloudy Sandakan 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 Sandakan typically peaks at 9 km/h during the day: Beaufort 2, light breeze or less.
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 85 % of the sky over Sandakan: mostly overcast, with about 5.8 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 & humidity
Heat and humidity in Sandakan
How often the day gets hot in Sandakan (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, Sandakan has about 30 hot days, with an average daytime high of 32 °C: hot and muggy. Plan outdoor activities for the morning and evening, drink a lot and take breaks in the cool.
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
Planning a trip to Sandakan
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Sandakan 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.
Sandakan has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 38) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 24).
- 33
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 32 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 6.8 h of sun a day
- 23 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 25
May half-term
May – Jun
Poor
- 33 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 6.6 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 24
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Poor
- 33 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 6.3 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 29
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 32 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 5.8 h of sun a day
- 29 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 38
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
PoorBest holidays
- 30 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 5.2 h of sun a day
- 29 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 15 min
- Distance
- 11,400 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.
Good to know: Malaysia
- Currency
- Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)
- Language
- Malay
- Sockets
- Type G · 240 V
- Traffic
- Drives on the left
- Dialling code
- +60
- Emergency number
- 999
UK plugs fit
Sources: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0). Please check details before you travel.
Compare & alternatives
Compare with another place
Sandakan compared
Put Sandakan side by side with another destination.
Sandakan vs Semporna
In October Semporna has the better holiday weather (score 41 vs 29). During the day Semporna is 2 °C cooler than Sandakan. The sea in Semporna is 1 °C cooler.
| in October | Sandakan | Semporna |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 29 | 41 |
| Daytime high | 32° | 30° |
| Sea | 30° | 29° |
| Sunshine | 6 h | 6 h |
| Rainy days | 29 | 29 |
| Best time | Dec – Mar | All year |
Through the year
Best places in the country
Malaysia in October: the best places
In October, Sandakan ranks 8 of 22 destinations in this country.
- Semporna30°29°68
- 2Labuan31°30°67
- 3Langkawi (Kuah)31°30°66
- 4Port Klang33°30°58
- 5Kuala Terengganu31°29°35
- 6Kota Bharu31°31
- 7Miri31°30°30
- 8SandakanThis page32°30°29
Places nearby
Near Sandakan
Other destinations close by.
Places with a similar climate
Places with a climate like Sandakan
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Sandakan's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Sandakan
When is the best time to visit Sandakan?
The best time to visit Sandakan is from December to March. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Sandakan?
The sea temperature in Sandakan ranges from 28.3 °C in January to 30.0 °C in May. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Sandakan in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 29.8 °C – almost as warm as a bath.
What is the warmest month in Sandakan?
May is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C and nights around 25 °C. January is the coolest month at 30 °C.
When does it rain most in Sandakan?
The wettest month is January with 332 mm of precipitation. The driest month is April with 185 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Sandakan get?
Sandakan gets around 2,200 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is April with 7.0 hours a day; in January there are 5.1 hours a day.
What time zone is Sandakan in?
Sandakan is on UTC+8 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Sandakan?
A nonstop flight from London to Sandakan takes about 14 h 15 min, for a straight-line distance of about 11,400 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Which school holidays are best for Sandakan?
Sandakan has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 38) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 24). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 33, May half-term 25, summer holidays 24, October half-term 29, Christmas holidays 38.