Best time to visit Penang
The best time to visit Penang is during January and February, however, anytime during the dry season from late-December through to early-March is good for a range of outdoor activities.
Penang weather
Penang experiences a year round hot equatorial climate, with an average annual temperature of 28°C (82°F) and a high of 33°C (91°F).
Rain falls throughout the year in Penang. Thunderstorms can occur during the wet season although these usually clear quickly.
What is the best month to visit Penang?
January and February are the best months to visit Penang since these months have the least rainfall. February is the sunniest month of the year, despite the occasional rain shower.
Anytime during the dry season from late-December through to early-March is good for a range of outdoor activities.
You can swim year-round in Penang Island.
Which is the hottest month in Penang?
The hottest months of the year in Penang are MArch and April, when maximum daytime temperatures usually reach 33°C (91°F), with high heat and humidity and a low of 25°C (77°F).
The hot season in Penang lasts from February through April, with an average daily high temperature above 32°C (89°F).
What is the humidity in Penang?
Perceived humidity in Penang does not vary significantly, with approximate average relative humidity calculated at between 74% – 84% over the course of the year. Typically, it's muggy all year round in Penang.
What do the humidity conditions feel like in Penang?
We derive the humidity comfort level – what conditions feel like – from the dew point temperature, which measures moisture content in the atmosphere: a higher dew point feels more humid, while a lower dew point feels drier.
Meteorologists agree that dew point temperature is a more consistant indication of 'absolute humidity' than relative humidity, which fluctuates with temperature.
The average annual dew point in Penang is 24°C (75°F), and varies over the course of the year from muggy at 23°C (73°F) to unpleasantly muggy and oppressive at 25°C (77°F).
Which is the coldest month in Penang?
The coldest month of the year in Penang is October, with an average high of 31°C (88°F) and a low of 24°C (75°F).
The cooler season lasts from September through November, with an average daily high temperature below 31°C (87°F).
Which is the sunniest month in Penang?
The sunniest month of the year in Penang is usually February, with an average of eight hours of sunshine per day; that's on average 68% of daylight hours.
When is the sea warmest in Penang?
The sea is usually at its warmest in Penang in June when the water temperature reaches 30°C (86°F), which is pleasant for swimming.
The sea is warm enough for swimming year-round in Penang.
Which month has the most rain in Penang?
October is usually the wettest month in Penang with 326mm (12.8in) of rainfall on average, distributed across 20 days.
The wet season lasts from mid-April to mid-December, with a greater than 45% chance of any given day being a wet day.
The heaviest rainfall in Penang falls during the months of September through to November.
The mainly dry season lasts from mid-December to mid-April. February is the driest month, with the least rainfall.
Which is the windiest month in Penang?
The windiest month of the year in Penang is December, with an average hourly wind speed of 10 kilometres per hour (6 mph; 5 knots).
The windy part of the year lasts from mid-November through to January, with average wind speeds of more than nine kilometres per hour (5.6 mph; 5 knots).
The less-windy time of year lasts from February through to mid-November. The calmest month of the year in Penang is April, with an average hourly wind speed of seven kilometres per hour (4 mph; 3.8 knots).
The predominant average hourly wind direction varies throughout the year in Penang.
Penang Island Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Comfort level – heat | |||||||||||
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| Comfort level – humidity (#muggy days) | |||||||||||
| 30 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 |
| Average dew point temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 74 | 75 | 78 | 82 | 82 | 81 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 84 | 79 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 11 |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 7 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 14 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 78 | 84 | 159 | 183 | 230 | 164 | 180 | 229 | 288 | 326 | 254 | 132 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
| Penang Island, Malaysia | |||||||||||
Holiday seasons
Malaysia’s peak holiday seasons follow school and public holidays.
High season: High season lasts from early-December to the end of January, including the major holidays of Christmas, New Year's Day and Chinese New Year; from June to mid-September, as this coincides with school holidays in the Middle-East; and from mid-May through to the end of June, and again during November and December, which coincides with Singapore's school holidays.
In addition, Malaysia's school holidays occur for two weeks during March, May and August, with a longer break from mid-November through December. Hari Raya Puasa, which celebrates the end of Ramadan, is held in September, with dates changing from year to year.
Low season: September through October.
Source: Meteorological data for Penang island is based on weather statistics gathered for the period 2012 to 2021 by the Malaysian Meteorological Department at the closest weather station: Penang International Airport (PEN), located in the south of Penang island around 14km (8.6mi) southwest of George Town. Additional climate data is sourced from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.
Latest update: Best time to visit Penang: 19 May, 2024
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.
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