Penang weather by month & the best time to visit
Malaysia · major coastal city · tropical rainforest climate
The best time to visit Penang is February — its sunniest month (Sunshine Score 81/100), with January close behind. Penang averages about 2,276 hours of sunshine a year. Daytime highs around 30°C / 86°F and roughly 62 mm of rain in February.
When is the best time to visit Penang?
For sunshine, the best time to visit Penang is February, then January. The dullest month is March (65/100, 146 mm of rain). The full month-by-month picture is in the table below.
How sunny is Penang?
Penang gets a moderate 2,276 hours of sunshine a year. February (81/100) is noticeably better than March (65). It ranks #9 of 34 destinations in Malaysia for annual sunshine, above the national median of 2,210 hours. The year's 2,355 mm of rain spreads fairly evenly across the months, with no pronounced dry season.
Sunshine Score by month
| Month | Score | Day high | Night low | Rain | UV | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 75 | 29° / 84°F | 26° / 79°F | 93 mm | 9 | 31° / 88°F |
| February | 81 | 30° / 86°F | 26° / 79°F | 62 mm | 11 | 32° / 90°F |
| March | 65 | 30° / 86°F | 27° / 81°F | 146 mm | 11 | 32° / 90°F |
| April | 65 | 30° / 86°F | 28° / 82°F | 200 mm | 11 | 32° / 90°F |
| May | 65 | 30° / 86°F | 28° / 82°F | 242 mm | 9 | 32° / 90°F |
| June | 65 | 30° / 86°F | 28° / 82°F | 176 mm | 9 | 31° / 88°F |
| July | 65 | 29° / 84°F | 28° / 82°F | 203 mm | 9 | 31° / 88°F |
| August | 65 | 29° / 84°F | 28° / 82°F | 219 mm | 9 | 31° / 88°F |
| September | 65 | 29° / 84°F | 27° / 81°F | 263 mm | 9 | 31° / 88°F |
| October | 65 | 29° / 84°F | 27° / 81°F | 303 mm | 9 | 31° / 88°F |
| November | 65 | 29° / 84°F | 27° / 81°F | 271 mm | 9 | 31° / 88°F |
| December | 65 | 29° / 84°F | 27° / 81°F | 177 mm | 8 | 30° / 86°F |
Sea temperature in Penang by month
The sea off Penang is warmest in February at around 32°C / 90°F, and coolest in December at 30°C / 86°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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Penang: questions and answers
What kind of destination is Penang?
Penang is a major coastal city 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 Penang get a year?
Penang gets about 2,276 hours of sunshine a year, at its best around February.
When is the best time to visit Penang?
The sunniest time to visit Penang is February, when the Sunshine Score peaks at 81/100 (with January close behind). Expect daytime highs around 30°C / 86°F.
What is the least sunny month in Penang?
March is the least sunny month in Penang, scoring 65/100 with about 146 mm of rain.
What is the sea temperature in Penang?
The sea in Penang ranges from about 30°C (December) to 32°C (February). Month-by-month sea temperatures are on this page.
How strong is the sun in Penang?
The typical midday UV index in Penang peaks around 11 (extreme) in February, easing to about 8 (very high) in December. Month-by-month midday UV values are in the UV column of the table on this page.
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