Climate in Penang — Annual Weather Overview
Penang has a tropical climate — hot and humid year-round with a distinct wet season. The hottest month is March (average high 30.6°C) and the coolest is November (29.0°C). Temperatures are consistent year-round, with highs ranging only 1.6°C between the warmest and coolest months. Annual rainfall totals around 3127mm. October is the wettest month at 443.5mm, while January averages just 81.7mm. Average daily sunshine is 8.9 hours.
**Spring (March, April, May):** average highs 30.3°C, 772mm rain. **Summer (June, July, August):** average highs 29.8°C, 729mm rain. **Autumn (September, October, November):** average highs 29.2°C, 1201mm rain. **Winter (December, January, February):** average highs 29.8°C, 426mm rain.
Penang — Monthly Temperatures
Penang — Monthly Rainfall
✅ Best months to visit
All year
ℹ️ No months to avoid
Weather in Penang stays reasonable all year.
Penang weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun/day | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29.9°C | 24.4°C | 81.7mm | 9.7h | 15 | 10/10 |
| February | 30.5°C | 24.5°C | 107.6mm | 9.8h | 16 | 9/10 |
| March | 30.6°C | 25.0°C | 164.8mm | 10.1h | 24 | 9/10 |
| April | 30.0°C | 25.3°C | 292.8mm | 9.5h | 28 | 8/10 |
| May | 30.2°C | 25.8°C | 314.3mm | 8.8h | 25 | 8/10 |
| June | 29.7°C | 25.3°C | 230.8mm | 9.3h | 26 | 8/10 |
| July | 29.8°C | 25.4°C | 222.2mm | 9.1h | 21 | 8/10 |
| August | 29.8°C | 25.2°C | 275.8mm | 9.2h | 26 | 8/10 |
| September | 29.4°C | 24.9°C | 353.6mm | 8.1h | 24 | 8/10 |
| October | 29.2°C | 24.8°C | 443.5mm | 7.8h | 28 | 8/10 |
| November | 29.0°C | 24.6°C | 403.5mm | 7.4h | 29 | 8/10 |
| December | 29.1°C | 24.3°C | 236.4mm | 7.7h | 22 | 8/10 |
For the full verdict on when to go, see the best time to visit Penang and the Penang rainy season guide. Seasonal breakdowns: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of climate does Penang have?
Penang has a tropical climate — hot and humid year-round with a distinct wet season. Average highs range from 29.0°C in November to 30.6°C in March.
What is the hottest month in Penang?
March is the hottest month in Penang, with average highs of 30.6°C and lows of 25.0°C.
What is the coldest month in Penang?
November is the coolest month, with average highs of 29.0°C and lows of 24.3°C.
What is the wettest month in Penang?
October is the wettest month, averaging 443.5mm of rainfall over around 28 rainy days.
When is rainy season in Penang?
Rainy season in Penang runs February to December, when rainfall is significantly higher than the rest of the year. Full rainy season guide →
How much rain does Penang get per year?
Penang receives around 3127mm of rain per year. The driest month is January (81.7mm).
When is the best time to visit Penang?
The best time to visit Penang is All year. See the full month-by-month guide →
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For the packing side of things, our sister site has a ready-made checklist: Penang packing list at 247PackingList. For currency, language and country facts see the Malaysia guide at 247CountryInfo. Some travellers fund a longer stay in Penang by teaching English along the way — a TEFL certificate is usually all it takes.
Trip essentials for Penang
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More Penang travel essentials
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Climate data sourced from Open-Meteo (open source, open data licence). Monthly averages calculated from 2020–2023 historical data. Weather can be unpredictable — always check a live forecast before travelling.