The best times to visit Penang for ideal weather are

December 10th to September 30th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Penang Travel Info

Weather in Penang

Temperature

Average temperatures in Penang vary barely at all. Considering humidity, temperatures feel hot all year with a very low chance of rain throughout the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 30th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Penang, the hottest months are May, June, and then April. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally early to mid May where highs are regularly around 90.3°F (32.4°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 77.3°F (25.2°C) at night.

Penang Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Penang Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Penang Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Penang Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Penang Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 88.7 81 74.3
Feb 89.6 82 74.5
Mar 89.7 82.3 75.8
Apr 89.2 82.6 76.8
May 89.5 83.3 77.2
Jun 89.4 83 77
Jul 88.6 82.2 75.9
Aug 88.2 81.7 75.8
Sep 87.5 81.3 75.7
Oct 87.3 81 75.8
Nov 87.6 80.7 75.7
Dec 87.6 80.6 75.1

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 31.5 27.2 23.5
Feb 32 27.8 23.6
Mar 32.1 27.9 24.3
Apr 31.8 28.1 24.9
May 31.9 28.5 25.1
Jun 31.9 28.3 25
Jul 31.4 27.9 24.4
Aug 31.2 27.6 24.3
Sep 30.8 27.4 24.3
Oct 30.7 27.2 24.3
Nov 30.9 27.1 24.3
Dec 30.9 27 23.9

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Penang are January, February, and then March. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early January. For example, on the week of January 1st there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late October to early November with an average of 2 days of significant precipitation the week of October 29th.

When can you find snow in Penang? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Penang.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Penang (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 0% 0 0
Feb 0% 0 0
Mar 0% 0 0
Apr 0% 0 0
May 2% 0 0.6
Jun 0% 0 0
Jul 0% 0 0
Aug 0% 0 0
Sep 0% 0 0
Oct 8% 0 1.8
Nov 22% 0 6.1
Dec 4% 0 1.1

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 0 0 0
Feb 0 0 0
Mar 0 0 0
Apr 0 0 0
May 2 0 1.5
Jun 0 0 0
Jul 0 0 0
Aug 0 0 0
Sep 0 0 0
Oct 8 0 4.6
Nov 22 0 15.5
Dec 4 0 2.8

 

Humidity and Wind

Penang has some extremely humid months, and high humidity throughout the year. The least humid month is February (70.8% relative humidity), and the most humid month is November (81.4%).

Wind in Penang is usually calm. The windiest month is February, followed by January and March. February’s average wind speed of around 4.5 knots (5.1 MPH or 8.3 KPH) is considered “a light breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early to mid February where average top sustained speeds reach 10 knots, which is considered a gentle breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Penang.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 4.3 Light breeze 9.2 Gentle breeze
Feb 4.5 Light breeze 9.6 Gentle breeze
Mar 4.3 Light breeze 9.5 Gentle breeze
Apr 4.2 Light breeze 9.1 Gentle breeze
May 4 Light breeze 8.8 Gentle breeze
Jun 3.9 Barely noticeable 8.6 Gentle breeze
Jul 3.9 Barely noticeable 9 Gentle breeze
Aug 4 Light breeze 9.1 Gentle breeze
Sep 3.9 Barely noticeable 8.7 Gentle breeze
Oct 4 Light breeze 8.7 Gentle breeze
Nov 3.8 Barely noticeable 8.8 Gentle breeze
Dec 4 Light breeze 8.9 Gentle breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 71.6%
Feb 70.8%
Mar 75%
Apr 78.3%
May 77.3%
Jun 76.9%
Jul 77.7%
Aug 78%
Sep 80%
Oct 80.8%
Nov 81.4%
Dec 78%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Penang?

Our best data indicates this area is somewhat safe, but with extra warnings in a few regions. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are travel warnings and regional advisories for Malaysia; exercise a high degree of caution and avoid some areas. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 01, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Penang, Malaysia is June, followed by September and March. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Penang in February. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is somewhat extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 41.5 in February means 41.5% of the tourists vs. June.

 

 

Overall Penang Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel warm. Highs range from 90.3°F (32.4°C) and 88.9°F (31.6°C) with similar temperatures in the later months. Rain is extremely rare with 0 to 1 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is fairly slow for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for deals.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are quite warm. These months see the least precipitation with about 0 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the second busiest season for tourism in Penang, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly more.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 88.4°F (31.3°C) and 86.7°F (30.4°C), which will feel very nice given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a normal amount: 0 to 7 days per month. Tourism is the busiest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be higher priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is perfect this time of year in Penang to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 90.1°F (32.3°C) and 87.4°F (30.8°C). On average, it rains or snows a very small amount: 0 to 1 times per month. These times of year are the slowest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› Malaysia › Penang, Malaysia