Kota Kinabalu, formerly Jesselton, is a city of 500,000 inhabitants, located in eastern Malaysia, on the north coast of the island of
, in the federal state of Sabah, of which it is the capital, and at 6 degrees north latitude.
, the highest mountain in Borneo and Malaysia at 4,095 meters (13,435 ft). Kinabalu Park was the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Malaysia.
. A little further away is the small island of Mengalum.
, which often come in the form of thunderstorms, are abundant, amounting to 2,700 millimeters (107 inches) per year. There is a long, very rainy period that goes from June to December, and although there is no real dry season, rainfall decreases from January to April, and drops below 100 mm (4 in) per month in February and March. However, it depends on the year: during La Niña years, like in 2011, it can rain a lot even in the latter period.
are high and stable throughout the year, however, they are a little lower in January and February and a little higher in April and May. From April to August, the temperature can sometimes reach 36 °C (97 °F). The humidity typical of the equator increases the feeling of discomfort.
At night it is never cold. In recent decades, the temperature has almost never dropped below 20 °C (68 °F), except in January 2014, when it dropped to 19.7 °C.
The best time to visit Kota Kinabalu is from January to April, as it is the one with the least rainfall. February is generally the best month, because it is the least rainy overall (as mentioned, however, not always) and also a little less hot than the following months.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the least warm month of the year, is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
27.4 °C, with a minimum of
23.5 °C and a maximum of
31.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
140.7 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
6.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
February is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
27.5 °C, with a minimum of
23.6 °C and a maximum of
31.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
78.1 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
6.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
March is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28 °C, with a minimum of
23.9 °C and a maximum of
32.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
93.1 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
6.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
April is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.8 °C, with a minimum of
24.5 °C and a maximum of
33 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
23 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
123.4 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
7.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
29 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
May, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.9 °C, with a minimum of
24.7 °C and a maximum of
33.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
23 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
212.3 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
7.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
29.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
June is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.5 °C, with a minimum of
24.4 °C and a maximum of
32.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
283.9 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
7.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
29.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
July is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.2 °C, with a minimum of
24.1 °C and a maximum of
32.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
288.3 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
29.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
August is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.2 °C, with a minimum of
24.1 °C and a maximum of
32.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
278.6 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
29.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
September is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.1 °C, with a minimum of
24 °C and a maximum of
32.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
287.3 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
29.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
October is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
27.9 °C, with a minimum of
24 °C and a maximum of
31.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
387.3 mm, distributed over 18 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
29.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
November is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28 °C, with a minimum of
24 °C and a maximum of
31.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
283.3 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
7.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
29.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
December is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
27.8 °C, with a minimum of
23.9 °C and a maximum of
31.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
261.8 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
7.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.