Kuala Lumpur Weather by Month: Is December to February Really Dry?

What is the weather like in Kuala Lumpur, month by month?

Kuala Lumpur is warm and wet in every month, so there is no season to wait for, only months that are better or worse. Here is the year:

Averages 2015-2025 · Source: Open-Meteo, CHIRPS · How we measure

The temperature band is nearly flat: 30° to 32° all year, nights of 23° to 24°. What moves is the rain, from 142 mm in July to 333 mm in November. A rainy day here is a day with at least four millimetres, so drizzle alone does not count. The rain usually comes as a heavy afternoon or evening downpour, so many wet days still have a dry morning for work or a walk.

Where to be next: your month-by-month route, $19

A route for your months with a leave-by date for each stop, a backup, and the seasonal traps on your path. Drafted from 11 years of weather data, every number checked against it, in your inbox within 48 hours. Not included: visas, insurance or bookings.

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Is December to February the dry season in Kuala Lumpur?

Not in our data, and the top results disagree with each other. One lists December to February among the drier stretches, then labels December and January as wet in its own monthly table; another gives January and February as the best months and December as the weakest. They are closer to right on the order than on the word "dry".

In our data December has about 19 rainy days and 90 percent cloud, January about 15 and 85 percent, and February about 9 and 75 percent. So February is the one winter month where most days are dry, and it has the fewest rainy days of the year. By total rain, June and July are the driest (168 and 142 mm), so the "May to July" advice is right about June and July but not May, which has 249 mm.

Which month is best for a stay in Kuala Lumpur?

February for a winter stay, and July for the least rain overall; if you cannot choose, pack for rain in any month. Late December and January work if you accept rain every second day. Avoid November (about 25 rainy days, 95 percent cloud). March is the hottest month at 32°, and rain is back at 262 mm, with April wetter still at 293 mm.

What about the haze?

The Malaysian haze is usually put at about July to September, when smoke from fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan crosses over. This year it came hard: in August 2026 haze pushed readings to unhealthy levels in parts of the country. Our history is a model averaged over 2023 to 2025, so it does not include this year.

In the model KL has no clean month and no sharp August to September peak. Fine-particle levels are above the WHO daily guideline in every month and lowest in November and December, the two wettest months, and highest in March. So the rain and the air pull in opposite directions. The model also reads well above published yearly figures for Malaysia, so use it to compare months, not as the level outside your window. The Malaysia air quality guide has the detail, with Penang and Langkawi as cleaner alternatives.

Is Bangkok a better winter base than Kuala Lumpur?

For dry weather in December to February, yes. Bangkok is far drier in these months, while Kuala Lumpur stays wet:

Bangkok has its own winter air problems, so read the Bangkok month-by-month guide before booking. For the wider picture see where is warm in January and where is warm in February.

What does this mean for working from Kuala Lumpur?

Humidity is 77 to 87 percent from November to March, so the air feels heavy and air conditioning is the thing to check before you rent. KL is a big city with malls, cafes and coworking spaces, so a wet month is far easier to work through than on an island: you lose commutes and walks, not the day. If you work outdoors or plan weekend trips, February is the month to choose. This page is weather only; check visas, rents and internet separately.