Is It Monsoon in Balikpapan, Indonesia? Rainfall and Weather by Month

Balikpapan, Indonesia JANUARY
28°
★★★
Off-peak season
24° to 31°
Wet Stretch
Among the wettest months of the year, with rain a near-daily presence.
☔ Heavy rain gear🥵 Heat protection
28°
★★★
Shoulder season
24° to 32°
Rain Eases Slightly
Still rainy, though somewhat less than its neighboring months.
☔ Umbrella essential🥵 Heat protection
28°
★★★
Off-peak season
24° to 31°
Wet Stretch
Among the wettest months of the year, with rain a near-daily presence.
☔ Heavy rain gear🥵 Heat protection
28°
★★★
Shoulder season
24° to 31°
Rain Eases
Rain becomes somewhat less frequent as the calmer months approach.
☔ Umbrella essential🥵 Heat protection
28°
★★★
Shoulder season
25° to 31°
Hottest Month
Tied as the hottest month of the year, with rain still a regular presence.
☔ Umbrella essential🥵 Heat protection
28°
★★★
Shoulder season
24° to 31°
Calmer Stretch Begins
Rain continues to ease as the comparatively calmer months arrive.
☔ Umbrella handy🥵 Heat protection
27°
★★★
Peak season
24° to 30°
Coolest & Calmer
The coolest month of the year on average, with lighter rain than most of the year.
☔ Umbrella handy🥵 Heat protection
28°
★★★
Shoulder season
24° to 31°
Calmer Stretch
Still comparatively light on rain, with the most sunshine of the year.
☔ Umbrella handy🥵 Heat protection
28°
★★★
Peak season
25° to 31°
Driest Month
The driest month of the year, as close to a favorable stretch as Balikpapan gets.
☔ Umbrella handy🥵 Heat protection
28°
★★★
Peak season
25° to 31°
Hot & Comparatively Dry
Tied as the hottest month of the year, still comparatively light on rain.
☔ Umbrella handy🥵 Heat protection
28°
★★★
Shoulder season
24° to 32°
Rain Returns
Rain becomes more frequent again as the wetter months approach.
☔ Umbrella essential🥵 Heat protection
28°
★★★
Off-peak season
24° to 31°
Wettest Stretch Begins
The month with the most rain days of the year, as the wetter stretch sets in.
☔ Heavy rain gear🥵 Heat protection
Drag through the year Jan
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
⭐️
Jul
Aug
⭐️
Sep
⭐️
Oct
Nov
Dec
This month
Rainfall
239 mm
16 rainy days this month
Sunshine
4 hrs/day
31% of daylight hours
Humidity
85%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
216 mm
14 rainy days this month
Sunshine
5 hrs/day
38% of daylight hours
Humidity
84%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
231 mm
16 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6 hrs/day
46% of daylight hours
Humidity
84%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
196 mm
14 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
85%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
216 mm
14 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
85%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
145 mm
13 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
85%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
119 mm
12 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
85%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
135 mm
12 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8 hrs/day
62% of daylight hours
Humidity
83%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
13 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
114 mm
10 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
82%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
13 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
140 mm
11 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
83%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
175 mm
14 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
84%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
201 mm
17 rainy days this month
Sunshine
5 hrs/day
38% of daylight hours
Humidity
84%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
★★★ peak season, ★★☆ decent shoulder months, ★☆☆ true off-peak, based on rain frequency, heat, and haze.
Seasons at a glance
🌟
Peak season: Jul, Sep, Oct
Balikpapan's closest thing to a favorable stretch, when rain historically eases compared to the rest of the year. September, October, and July see comparatively fewer rain days, though this remains a genuinely wet, equatorial climate.
🌤️
Shoulder season: Feb, Apr, May, Jun, Aug, Nov
This tier spans most of the rest of the year: February, April, May, June, August, and November all see substantial rain on most days, hot and humid throughout, without quite reaching the wettest or calmest extremes.
☔
Off-peak season: Jan, Mar, Dec
Balikpapan's wetter stretch, when rain is historically more frequent and abundant. December, January, and March see the most sustained rain of the year.
Good to know
🛢️
A major oil and gas hub
Balikpapan is one of Indonesia's key petroleum industry cities, home to a major refinery that anchors much of the local economy.
🏛️
Gateway to Indonesia's new capital
Nusantara, the planned new capital of Indonesia, is being built nearby in East Kalimantan, making Balikpapan a key entry point for the project.
🦧
Orangutan sanctuaries are a short trip away
Rehabilitation and conservation centers near the city, including Samboja Lestari, work to protect and reintroduce orangutans to the surrounding forest.
🌀
Balikpapan isn't affected by tropical cyclones
Being close to the equator, Balikpapan sits outside the paths where tropical cyclones typically form or track.
🌧️
Rain eases somewhat from June to October
This stretch historically sees less rain than the rest of the year, though Balikpapan has no true dry season.
Top attractions
1
Samboja Lestari
An orangutan and sun bear rehabilitation center southwest of the city, part of ongoing conservation work across East Kalimantan.
2
Kutai National Park
One of Borneo's important lowland rainforest reserves, home to orangutans and hornbills, reached by boat along the Sangatta or Bengalon rivers.
3
Melawai Beach
A popular waterfront promenade along the city's bay, lively in the evenings with food stalls and views over the water.
Frequently asked questions
When is monsoon season in Balikpapan?›
Balikpapan's wettest stretch runs roughly from December through March, with January historically among the wettest months, averaging around 239mm of rain across 16 days.
What is the best time of year to visit Balikpapan?›
June through October is historically Balikpapan's comparatively calmer stretch for rain, though this remains a genuinely wet, equatorial climate.
What is the least favorable time to visit Balikpapan?›
December through March historically brings more frequent, abundant rain than the rest of the year.
Which month has the most rain in Balikpapan?›
January is historically among the wettest months, averaging around 239mm of rain across 16 days.
Which month is the driest in Balikpapan?›
September is historically the driest month, averaging around 114mm of rain.
How hot does Balikpapan get?›
May and October are historically tied as the hottest months of the year.
What should I pack for Balikpapan during the rainy season?›
Rain gear is worth having year-round in Balikpapan, especially from December through March, when rain is historically most frequent and abundant.
Does Balikpapan get cyclones?›
No. Being close to the equator, Balikpapan is not affected by tropical cyclones.
Is Balikpapan an oil city?›
Yes. Balikpapan is one of Indonesia's key oil and gas hubs, home to a major refinery and a significant part of the local economy.
Is Balikpapan near Indonesia's new capital?›
Yes. Nusantara, Indonesia's planned new capital, is being built nearby in East Kalimantan, making Balikpapan a key gateway for the project.