Kota Baharu weather by month & the best time to visit
Malaysia · coastal city break · tropical rainforest climate
The best time to visit Kota Baharu is February — its sunniest month (Sunshine Score 81/100), with April and March close behind. Kota Baharu averages about 2,337 hours of sunshine a year. Daytime highs around 28°C / 82°F and roughly 63 mm of rain in February.
When is the best time to visit Kota Baharu?
For sunshine, the best time to visit Kota Baharu is February, then April and March. The dullest month is January (65/100, 193 mm of rain). The full month-by-month picture is in the table below.
How sunny is Kota Baharu?
Kota Baharu gets a moderate 2,337 hours of sunshine a year. February (81/100) is noticeably better than January (65). It ranks #4 of 34 destinations in Malaysia for annual sunshine, above the national median of 2,210 hours. Rain has a clear season: the wettest stretch, around November, carries about 49% of the annual 2,538 mm.
Sunshine Score by month
| Month | Score | Day high | Night low | Rain | UV | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 65 | 27° / 81°F | 24° / 75°F | 193 mm | 9 | 29° / 84°F |
| February | 81 | 28° / 82°F | 24° / 75°F | 63 mm | 11 | 30° / 86°F |
| March | 71 | 29° / 84°F | 25° / 77°F | 116 mm | 12 | 31° / 88°F |
| April | 75 | 30° / 86°F | 26° / 79°F | 98 mm | 12 | 32° / 90°F |
| May | 65 | 31° / 88°F | 27° / 81°F | 154 mm | 10 | 32° / 90°F |
| June | 65 | 31° / 88°F | 27° / 81°F | 152 mm | 10 | 32° / 90°F |
| July | 65 | 30° / 86°F | 26° / 79°F | 162 mm | 10 | 32° / 90°F |
| August | 65 | 30° / 86°F | 26° / 79°F | 171 mm | 10 | 32° / 90°F |
| September | 65 | 30° / 86°F | 26° / 79°F | 179 mm | 11 | 31° / 88°F |
| October | 65 | 29° / 84°F | 26° / 79°F | 254 mm | 9 | 31° / 88°F |
| November | 65 | 28° / 82°F | 26° / 79°F | 493 mm | 8 | 31° / 88°F |
| December | 65 | 28° / 82°F | 25° / 77°F | 503 mm | 8 | 29° / 84°F |
Sea temperature in Kota Baharu by month
The sea off Kota Baharu is warmest in April at around 32°C / 90°F, and coolest in January at 29°C / 84°F. The water sits at a comfortable 21°C or warmer roughly all year round. Month-by-month sea-surface temperatures are in the Sea column of the table above.
Nearest destinations
Head-to-head
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Kota Baharu: questions and answers
What kind of destination is Kota Baharu?
Kota Baharu is a coastal city break in Malaysia with a tropical rainforest climate — the sea reaches 32°C at its warmest and is swimmable (21°C+) year-round.
How many hours of sunshine does Kota Baharu get a year?
Kota Baharu gets about 2,337 hours of sunshine a year, at its best around February.
When is the best time to visit Kota Baharu?
The sunniest time to visit Kota Baharu is February, when the Sunshine Score peaks at 81/100 (with April and March close behind). Expect daytime highs around 28°C / 82°F.
What is the least sunny month in Kota Baharu?
January is the least sunny month in Kota Baharu, scoring 65/100 with about 193 mm of rain.
What is the sea temperature in Kota Baharu?
The sea in Kota Baharu ranges from about 29°C (January) to 32°C (April). Month-by-month sea temperatures are on this page.
How strong is the sun in Kota Baharu?
The typical midday UV index in Kota Baharu peaks around 12 (extreme) in March, easing to about 8 (very high) in November. Month-by-month midday UV values are in the UV column of the table on this page.
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