Penang vs Medan: which is sunnier?
🇲🇾 Malaysia vs 🇮🇩 Indonesia · 241 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Penang is the sunnier overall: about 2,276 hours of sunshine a year to Medan's 1,944. Penang has the higher Sunshine Score in 9 of 12 months; the other 3 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
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At a glance
| Penang | Medan | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,276 | 1,944 |
| Sunniest month | February (81/100) | February (73/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 72/100 | 65/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 65/100 | 63/100 |
| Rain / year | 2,355 mm | 2,276 mm |
| Warmest sea | 32°C / 90°F | 32°C / 90°F |
| Peak midday UV | 11 (extreme) | 10 (very high) |
Penang vs Medan month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penang | Medan | Penang | Medan | Penang | Medan | Penang | Medan | |
| January | 75 | 63 | 29° | 29° | 93 | 149 | 31° | 30° |
| February | 81 | 73 | 30° | 30° | 62 | 90 | 32° | 31° |
| March | 65 | 64 | 30° | 30° | 146 | 142 | 32° | 32° |
| April | 65 | 65 | 30° | 30° | 200 | 137 | 32° | 32° |
| May | 65 | 62 | 30° | 31° | 242 | 200 | 32° | 32° |
| June | 65 | 65 | 30° | 30° | 176 | 137 | 31° | 32° |
| July | 65 | 62 | 29° | 30° | 203 | 168 | 31° | 31° |
| August | 65 | 62 | 29° | 30° | 219 | 199 | 31° | 31° |
| September | 65 | 62 | 29° | 30° | 263 | 261 | 31° | 31° |
| October | 65 | 62 | 29° | 29° | 303 | 310 | 31° | 31° |
| November | 65 | 62 | 29° | 29° | 271 | 233 | 31° | 31° |
| December | 65 | 62 | 29° | 29° | 177 | 250 | 30° | 30° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Penang · Feb Penang · Mar even · Apr even · May Penang · Jun even · Jul Penang · Aug Penang · Sep Penang · Oct Penang · Nov Penang · Dec Penang.
When to pick which
- November–February: Penang (average score 72/100 vs 65). Daytime highs are similar (29°C vs 29°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Penang averages 65/100, Medan 64/100. Daytime highs are similar (30°C vs 30°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Penang averages 65/100, Medan 63/100. Daytime highs are similar (29°C vs 30°C).
- September–October: Penang (average score 65/100 vs 62). Daytime highs are similar (29°C vs 30°C).
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 32°C / 90°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Penang all year, Medan all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Penang weather by month · Medan weather by month · Best time to visit Malaysia · Best time to visit Indonesia.
More comparisons: Penang vs Subang · Penang vs Kota Baharu · Penang vs Hat Yai · Medan vs Subang · Medan vs Banda Aceh · Medan vs Langkawi · all head-to-heads