January could be a good time to visit Kuala Lumpur, as the weather is generally fine. The average high temperature is around +88°F, and there are typically 0 sunny days in January. However, expect about 10 rainy days, and total monthly rainfall of approximately 172 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
January is usually the coldest month of the year in Kuala Lumpur;
Average weather
☀️
+88°F
Avg. max. temperature
+66°F
Min.
+97°F
Max.
172 mm
Total precipitation
80%
Avg. humidity
0 m/s
Avg. wind
0 ☀️
Sunny Days
4 ⛅️
Cloudy
10 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Kuala Lumpur has OK weather in January.
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Average temperature in Kuala Lumpur in January
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Kuala Lumpur for January based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The expected average maximum temperature in January is +88°F with a maximum of +91°F and a minimum of +73°F.
The average maximum temperature goes down 10% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +91°F to +90°F.
Is Kuala Lumpur warm or cold in January?
Kuala Lumpur is typically hot in January.
Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +88°F to +88°F. The minimum temperature also goes up from +73°F to +73°F.
Make sure that you pack your summer linen and swimming costumes; it’s probably going to be hot.
January is the coldest month in Kuala Lumpur, here is the comparison with other months:
Water temperature in Kuala Lumpur in January
Water in Kuala Lumpur in January is Very warm. It varies from +81°F to +85°F, with an average of +83°F.This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +88°F.
The water temperature in January is one of the coldest of the entire year:
The warmest water temperatures in Kuala Lumpur are reached in April, when the average sea temperature rises to +86°F. The coldest water temperatures are in January, with an average of +83°F.
Can you swim in Kuala Lumpur in January?
You can definitely swim in Kuala Lumpur in January, the water is very warm (+83°F in average), and might even be unpleasant for ones who like it more fresh.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
Don't forget sunscreen and a hat, it's going to be hot!
Climate in Kuala Lumpur in January
Kuala Lumpur weather looks like this, on average, in January and the surrounding months.
December
January
February
Avg. temperature
+88°F
+88°F
+90°F
Min. temperature
+68°F
+66°F
+68°F
Max. temperature
+95°F
+97°F
+97°F
Rainfall
227 mm
172 mm
104 mm
Wind
0 m/s
0 m/s
1 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+84°F
+83°F
+84°F
Humidity
83%
80%
78%
Air pressure
1009 HPa
1009 HPa
1009 HPa
Sunny days
0
0
1
Cloudy days
1
4
5
Rainy days
11
10
8
Snowy days
0
0
0
January weather is still as ok as in December.The temperature levels stay the same in the area of +88°F for average maximum temperature during the day.As January arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 227 mm to 172 mm.It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 83% to 80%.The average wind speed doesn’t change much during January, staying around 0 m/s.The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 0 sunny days during the month.
February brings much the same weather, it remains ok.
Wind speed in Kuala Lumpur in January based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 1 m/s getting up to 2 m/s which is a light breeze; barely moving the tree leaves.
The average wind speed in Kuala Lumpur is gradually increasing during January, going from 1 m/s to 1 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during January in Kuala Lumpur based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in January is about 1213 mm, with a 94% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 307 mm, which is considered heavy rain.January is a pretty wet month with over 29 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
January is one of the rainiest months in Kuala Lumpur, here is a comparison with other months, total mm:
Kuala Lumpur wettest month is November, where a typical day has a 27% chance of precipitation and 257 mm of rainfall per day. June, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 30% chance of precipitation and 74 mm of rainfall per day.
How was the weather last January in Kuala Lumpur?
This is the weather in Kuala Lumpur in January 2023:
1 January
🌫️
+91°F
2 January
🌫️
+90°F
3 January
⛈️
+92°F
4 January
🌫️
+89°F
5 January
🌫️
+88°F
6 January
⛈️
+90°F
7 January
🌫️
+87°F
8 January
🌫️
+87°F
9 January
🌫️
+89°F
10 January
🌫️
+86°F
11 January
🌫️
+87°F
12 January
🌫️
+91°F
13 January
🌫️
+88°F
14 January
🌫️
+89°F
15 January
🌫️
+87°F
16 January
⛈️
+92°F
17 January
🌫️
+91°F
18 January
🌫️
+88°F
19 January
🌫️
+90°F
20 January
🌫️
+88°F
21 January
🌧️
+82°F
22 January
☀️
+81°F
23 January
🌫️
+87°F
24 January
🌧️
+79°F
25 January
🌫️
+83°F
26 January
🌫️
+87°F
27 January
🌫️
+90°F
28 January
🌫️
+86°F
29 January
🌫️
+87°F
30 January
🌫️
+88°F
31 January
🌫️
+89°F
In January 2023 Kuala Lumpur had 1 sunny days, 0 cloudy days, and 2 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +88°F, with an absolute maximum of +91°F and a minimum of +79°F. The average humidity was 80%, with a maximum of 99% and a minimum of 45%. The average wind speed was 1 m/s, with a maximum of 5 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in January?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how Kuala Lumpur climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in Kuala Lumpur in January has not changed that much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1984 (+86°F) and the highest in 2019 (+92°F). The driest year was 1981 with only 881 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2023 with 5963 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Kuala Lumpur in January:
Is January a good time to visit Kuala Lumpur?
It’s always a good time to visit Kuala Lumpur, but the weather is changeable in January, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.
Can you sunbathe in Kuala Lumpur in January?
Absolutely, January is hot in Kuala Lumpur. Plan on beach and pool time, and ensure that you pack light and breathable options to stay comfortable.
Can you swim in Kuala Lumpur in January?
Yes, you can swim in Kuala Lumpur in January, the water is very warm, with temperature averaging at +83°F, but it's important to manage hydration and sun exposure.
Is Kuala Lumpur rainy in January?
Kuala Lumpur is often rainy in January. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in Kuala Lumpur in January?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Kuala Lumpur in January, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
Other cities in Malaysia
Check out the weather for other cities in Malaysia.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Kuala Lumpur, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.
