Kuala Lumpur weather in January
Kuala Lumpur in January averages 28°C (83°F) and 227 mm of rain. It is one of the wetter months of the year here.
Of the twelve months in Kuala Lumpur, January is the sixth driest.
- Average temp
- 28°C (83°F)
24–33°C · 75–91°F
- Rainfall
- 227 mm
A wet month
- Sunshine
- —
What is Kuala Lumpur like in January?
Daytime
Days are hot, often above 32°C.
Rain
Expect frequent rain — this is a wet month.
Evening
Evenings stay warm.
What should I pack for Kuala Lumpur in January?
High-factor sun cream
With daytime highs around 33°C, burn time is short even in shade.
Sunglasses and a brimmed hat
Midday glare is the part people underpack for, not the heat itself.
Loose cotton or linen
Synthetics stop working once you are sweating through them all day.
A refillable water bottle
Daily highs this warm need roughly double the water a temperate day does.
A proper waterproof, not a folding umbrella
227 mm in the month usually arrives as heavy bursts that an umbrella will not cover.
A dry bag for phone and documents
Worth it for one downpour caught between the taxi and the door.
January compared with December and February
January in Kuala Lumpur is about the same temperature as December and 54 mm drier than it, which averages 28°C (82°F).
January in Kuala Lumpur is 0.6°C cooler than February and 30 mm wetter than it, which averages 29°C (84°F).
Daylight in Kuala Lumpur in January
On 15 January the sun is up for 11 hours 58 minutes in Kuala Lumpur, rising about 07:23 and setting about 19:21 local time.
Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur
Dates are a starting point for January.
Travel guides for Kuala Lumpur
What to read before you book.
Kuala Lumpur weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How January compares with the rest of the year
January is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 28°C / 83°F | 227 mm |
| February | 29°C / 84°F | 197 mm |
| March | 29°C / 85°F | 270 mm |
| April | 29°C / 85°F | 296 mm |
| May | 29°C / 85°F | 232 mm |
| June | 29°C / 84°F | 145 mm |
| July | 29°C / 83°F | 169 mm |
| August | 29°C / 83°F | 178 mm |
| September | 28°C / 83°F | 215 mm |
| October | 29°C / 83°F | 284 mm |
| November | 28°C / 83°F | 360 mm |
| December | 28°C / 82°F | 281 mm |
Check another month
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FAQs about Kuala Lumpur in January
January climate averages for Kuala Lumpur, 1991–2020.
Kuala Lumpur averages 28°C (83°F) in January, ranging from about 24°C (75°F) at night to 33°C (91°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Yes, a lot. January brings about 227 mm, which makes it one of the wetter months here — expect heavy bursts rather than all-day drizzle.
No. January averages 28°C (83°F) against 29°C (84°F) in February — 0.6°C cooler.
January is about as warm as December, and 54 mm drier.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is June to September; January sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what January is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 11 hours 58 minutes of daylight in mid-January, against 12 hours 18 minutes in June and 11 hours 57 minutes in December.
On 15 January, sunrise is about 07:23 and sunset about 19:21 local time. Both shift across the month.
