Malaysia
Kota Kinabalu in May: weather, sea & travel advice
This month's data profile
Rain shapes the decision
Kota Kinabalu in May is climatically mixed. The average daily high is around 28 °C, and the sea is about 30 °C. With about 21 rainy days it is very wet.
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Rank among 12 monthly averages
57/100 · #12
Warmth
#2
Dryness
#6
Sun
#3
Sea warmth
#2
Published best categories: none
Kota Kinabalu · MayPhoto: Stefan Fussan · CC BY-SA 3.0Climate facts
- Average high
- 28 °C
- Average low
- 24 °C
- Sea
- 30 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 21 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 7 h/day
- Humidity
- 84 %
Climate evidence with direct month comparison
The highlighted row is the selected month. Precipitation total and rainy days are separate monthly averages.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Precipitation mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Sea °C | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 29 | 23 | 17 | 142 | 7.4 | 83 | 1.3 | 29 | 61 |
| May (selected) | 28 | 24 | 21 | 205 | 6.9 | 84 | 1.3 | 30 | 57 |
| June | 27 | 23 | 22 | 250 | 6.4 | 85 | 1.4 | 30 | 58 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: May (57/100)
Positive and negative values show the change from the selected month.
| Score Δ | Average high Δ | Average low Δ | Rainy days Δ | Rain Δ | Sun Δ | Humidity Δ | Wind Δ | Sea Δ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | +4 | +0.4 °C | -0.6 °C | -3.7 | -63.2 mm | +0.5 h | -1.5 % | ±0 m/s | -0.9 °C |
| June | +1 | -0.7 °C | -0.3 °C | +0.4 | +44.4 mm | -0.5 h | +0.4 % | +0.1 m/s | +0.1 °C |
All twelve months in context
Find a place to stay
Where to stay in Kota Kinabalu
Compare available stays, prices and cancellation terms for Kota Kinabalu on Booking.com.
Booking.comFind places to stayAffiliate link: there is no extra cost to you.
Useful next decisions
Frequently asked questions
How warm is Kota Kinabalu in May?
The average daily high is around 28 °C, with an average daily low of about 24 °C.
Can you swim in Kota Kinabalu in May?
The sea is about 30 °C (very warm).
Does it rain a lot in Kota Kinabalu in May?
The curated estimate is about 21 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 205 mm for the month. A rainy day does not mean all-day rain.
When is the best time to visit Kota Kinabalu?
By the climate score, January, February, March and April are the strongest months for Kota Kinabalu. For a beach trip: January, February, March and April. May is not among them.