Are you looking for information about the rainy season in Malaysia? What period should you avoid for your trip? When is the monsoon in Malaysia? Is it possible to travel to Malaysia during this period? The climate in Malaysia is quite complex to understand and very different from one region to another. Here is an analysis of the various seasons in Malaysia to help you know when to go.
The climate in Malaysia: Rainy season? Dry season? Monsoon?
Malaysia is a state in Southeast Asia, cut into two distinct parts. A region of Malaysia is located on the Malacca Peninsula, south of Thailand. It is Peninsular Malaysia. On the other hand, opposite, on the island of Borneo, we find East Malaysia. This region represents 60% of the country's territory, but has very few inhabitants. In fact, it is largely composed jungle and high terrain. Most of the Malaysian population therefore resides in the peninsular part.
Malaysia is located just above the equator lineit therefore has an equatorial climate. This means that the weather is mostly hot and humid. We find regular rain throughout the year.
Explanations on the different seasons in Malaysia
In Malaysia, we experience two monsoon periods:
- the northeast monsoon or winter monsoon, which lasts between November and February.
- the southwest monsoon or summer monsoon, which affects the country from May to September.
Among these two periods, which correspond to the rainy season in Malaysia, the winter monsoon is particularly intense. There is heavy rain in the east of Peninsular Malaysia and on the island of Borneo. The west coast, protected by high reliefs, is on the other hand quite favorable during this period.
On the other handthe summer monsoon is often accompanied violent winds. However, the rains are less intense than in winter and are ultimately rare over most of the territory. In fact, it is the ideal time to discover the east coast, which has the most beautiful beaches in the country. The west coast of Malaysia is for her part, most affected during this monsoon period.
Finally, we know two off-seasons in Malaysia: from March to May and from September to October. These are considered to be drier periods, although that it always falls at least 100mm of rain every month in Malaysia. Also, this is not true for the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. In this region, we see that the Shoulder seasons coincide with the highest precipitation peaks of the year.
When to go to avoid the rainy season in Malaysia?
The climate in Malaysia is particularly complex. To help you find your way, here is an analysis of the ideal times to go to Malaysia depending on the region:
- Malaysia, outside the east coast, can be visited from December to February. This is also the high tourist season.
- The months of March to June will be avoided when visiting the west coast, but can be a good choice for visiting the rest of Malaysia. This is not the period when the rains are the heaviest.
- From June to August, the season is quite touristy. This is the least rainy time of the year throughout the territory, even if precipitation still exceeds 100 to 200 mm per month. This is an ideal time if you want to juggle from one region to another in order to find a relatively correct climate everywhere.
Should you avoid the rainy season in Malaysia when traveling?
To plan a stay in Malaysia, often, travelers don't focus on the weather. The reason is simple: the climate in Malaysia is particularly bad. So there is no best time to leave, we will rather talk about the “least worst” period.
In addition, the climate is complicated to take into account when planning your trip. There will be big differences depending on the regions you want to visit. But ultimately, this allows you to never really go wrong: you will always find a region where the climate is good at a certain time of the year.
Inland, and in particular in Kuala Lumpur, you can program a travel throughout the year. In fact, the climate on site has not no big fluctuations during the year. However, this does not mean that it is particularly friendly to outdoor activities.
In the end, you won't be able to avoid rain during your trip to Malaysia. And if certain monsoon periods promise more intense rains in places, it is not uncommon for you to come across showers outside of these times.
As a general rule, if you count go on a trip to enjoy the sun, beaches and good weather, Malaysia is certainly not a country made for you. On the other hand, if you are looking to discover the cultural riches of the country, to participate in traditional festivals or to explore the natural landscapes (while having a raincoat with you)you will not be disappointed.
That said, rainy season or not, in Malaysia, the temperature average is always high (between approximately 23 and 35°C) and swimming is possible all year round. Rain often occurs as brutal but relatively short showers. Which won't always stop you from going out during your trip.
Are there typhoons during the rainy season in Malaysia?
When we think about the rainy season in Malaysia, it is legitimate to wonder if this period is not accompanied by other inconveniences that could endanger their safety.
But luckily, typhoons are rare in this region of the world. In fact, Malaysia lies just below the formation line typhoons. Thus, the country is very rarely affected by these events. As a reminder, however, the typhoon season in Southeast Asia is extending from May to December, with more probabilities in November and December.
What period should you avoid during the monsoon in Malaysia?
If we were to mention months when the climate is not favorable in Malaysia, the months of November and December seem to win hands down. Indeed, during these two months, it rains 25 and 29 days out of 30 in Malaysia. Clouds are also very present on the remaining days. These inconveniences are accompanied by very intense heat and ambient humidity which sometimes makes the air stifling.
Although the weather generally varies from region to region, these two months are to be avoided over a large part of the territory in Malaysia. However, the month of December is one of the months where Hotel reservations are the most numerous on site. Travelers then concentrate around Kuala Lumpur and the west of the territory: the Langkawi islands for example.
Other inconveniences of the rainy season in Malaysia
The monsoon in Malaysia is often accompanied storms, violent winds, stormy seas, but also other inconveniences to take into account. Here they are:
Floods:
Flooding during the rainy season in Malaysia is common, particularly during the winter monsoon. In December 2018 in particular, torrential rains caused significant flooding and caused victims in the country.
Mosquitoes:
Mosquitoes are very present in Malaysia which is a particularly humid country. Malaria is in constant decline in the country and is today limited to areas with little tourism. Dengue fever is, however, still very present. This disease causes very disabling symptoms (fever, severe fatigue, migraines) but is generally not fatal. To avoid it, protect yourself with a mosquito repellent purchased on site in all circumstances, the application of which will need to be renewed regularly.
You now have all the information to plan your stayand choose the monsoon period in Malaysia or on the contrary avoid it. The weather being quite unpredictable and never very favorable in Malaysia, It will therefore be up to you to make your choice according to your wishes. So, are you planning to travel during the rainy season in Malaysia?
