Is It Monsoon in Kota Bharu, Malaysia? Rainfall and Weather by Month

Kota Bharu, Malaysia JANUARY
27°
★★★
Shoulder season
23° to 29°
Monsoon Tapers Off
Still catching the tail end of the northeast monsoon, though rain is noticeably lighter than November and December.
☔ Light rain jacket🧥 Light layers
27°
★★★
Peak season
23° to 31°
Driest & Best
The driest, most comfortable month of the year, both the least rainy and the least hot of the dry-season months.
☀️ Sunscreen✨ Best sightseeing weather
28°
★★★
Peak season
24° to 32°
Peak Dry Season
Still dry and sunny, warming up a little from February.
☀️ Sunscreen✨ Best sightseeing weather
29°
★★★
Peak season
24° to 33°
Hot & Dry
Dry season holds, but the heat is building noticeably.
🥵 Heat protection☀️ Sunscreen
29°
★★★
Shoulder season
25° to 33°
Hottest Month
The hottest month of the year, with rain gradually creeping back in as the dry season ends.
🥵 Heat protection☔ Light rain jacket
29°
★★★
Shoulder season
24° to 33°
Warm & Showery
Still hot, with rain becoming a more regular, if not overwhelming, presence.
☔ Umbrella handy🥵 Heat protection
28°
★★★
Shoulder season
24° to 32°
Warm & Showery
Similar to June, warm and humid with regular showers.
☔ Umbrella handy🥵 Heat protection
28°
★★★
Shoulder season
24° to 32°
Rain Builds
Rain ticks up slightly, still warm and humid throughout.
☔ Umbrella essential🥵 Heat protection
28°
★★★
Shoulder season
24° to 32°
Rain Builds
Rain remains frequent as the year moves toward its wettest stretch.
☔ Umbrella essential🥵 Heat protection
28°
★★★
Off-peak season
24° to 31°
Monsoon Approaches
Rain increases sharply as the northeast monsoon begins building toward its peak.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
27°
★★★
Off-peak season
24° to 30°
Wettest Month
The rainiest month of the year by a wide margin, with the northeast monsoon in full force.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
27°
★★★
Off-peak season
24° to 29°
Deep Monsoon
Nearly as wet as November, with the monsoon still in full force through the month.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
Drag through the year Jan
Jan
⭐️
Feb
⭐️
Mar
⭐️
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
This month
Rainfall
150 mm
10 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
82%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
69 mm
5 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8 hrs/day
62% of daylight hours
Humidity
80%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
140 mm
7 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8.5 hrs/day
65% of daylight hours
Humidity
80%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
91 mm
6 rainy days this month
Sunshine
9 hrs/day
69% of daylight hours
Humidity
79%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
117 mm
8 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8 hrs/day
62% of daylight hours
Humidity
79%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
137 mm
10 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
80%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
155 mm
10 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
80%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
157 mm
12 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
81%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
163 mm
12 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
82%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
267 mm
16 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6 hrs/day
46% of daylight hours
Humidity
84%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
678 mm
20 rainy days this month
Sunshine
4.5 hrs/day
35% of daylight hours
Humidity
87%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
572 mm
18 rainy days this month
Sunshine
5 hrs/day
38% of daylight hours
Humidity
85%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 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: Feb, Mar, Apr
Kota Bharu's driest, sunniest stretch, when the northeast monsoon has fully retreated. February is the best of the three, both the least rainy and, since the heat hasn't fully built up yet, the least hot too.
🌤️
Shoulder season: Jan, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
This tier spans real variety. January is still catching the tail end of the previous monsoon, while May sees rain gradually creeping back in as the next wet season approaches. June through September sit in the milder middle of the year, warm and humid with regular but not overwhelming rain.
☔
Off-peak season: Oct, Nov, Dec
The heart of the northeast monsoon, when this east-facing coast catches Peninsular Malaysia's heaviest rain. November is the wettest month by a wide margin, with December not far behind, and October already building toward it.
Good to know
✈️
Sultan Ismail Petra Airport serves the city
Direct flights connect Kota Bharu to Kuala Lumpur and other major Malaysian cities, with the Thai border crossing at Rantau Panjang also nearby.
🛍️
Pasar Siti Khadijah is run largely by women traders
Kota Bharu's best-known central market is famous across Malaysia for being run almost entirely by women, selling produce, textiles, and local delicacies.
🪁
Kelantan is known for its traditional crafts
Batik, songket weaving, and the large traditional wau bulan (moon kite) are all Kelantan specialties, and Kota Bharu is a good base for seeing all three.
🌊
The east coast catches the monsoon hardest
Kota Bharu sits on Peninsular Malaysia's east coast, which historically takes the brunt of the northeast monsoon, unlike the more sheltered west coast further south.
🕌
Kelantan observes a Friday-Saturday weekend
Unlike most of Malaysia, Kelantan runs on a Friday-Saturday weekend rather than Saturday-Sunday, worth checking when planning around opening hours.
Top attractions
1
Pasar Siti Khadijah
Kota Bharu's iconic central market, famous for being run largely by women traders, selling produce, dried goods, textiles, and local Kelantanese food.
2
Pantai Cahaya Bulan (Moonlight Beach)
A palm-lined beach just outside the city, popular for a sunset walk and known for the folklore tale that gave it its name.
3
Kampung Kraftangan (Handicraft Village)
A cultural complex near the market showcasing Kelantan's traditional crafts, including batik painting, songket weaving, and wau bulan kite making.
Frequently asked questions
When is monsoon season in Kota Bharu?›
Kota Bharu's monsoon season runs roughly from October through December, with November historically the wettest, averaging around 678mm of rain across 20 days.
What is the best time of year to visit Kota Bharu?›
February through April is historically Kota Bharu's driest, sunniest stretch, with February the single best month, both the least rainy and the least hot of the three.
What is the least favorable time to visit Kota Bharu?›
November and December historically bring the heaviest, most sustained rain of the year, driven by the northeast monsoon that hits this coast hardest.
Which month has the most rain in Kota Bharu?›
November is historically the wettest month, averaging around 678mm of rain across 20 days.
Which month is the driest in Kota Bharu?›
February is historically the driest month, averaging around 69mm of rain.
How hot does Kota Bharu get?›
May is historically the hottest month of the year.
What should I pack for Kota Bharu during the rainy season?›
An umbrella and rain gear are worth having from around October through December, when the northeast monsoon brings the bulk of the year's rain.
Is the dry season in Kota Bharu reliable every year?›
Not entirely. The dry season from February to April is usually the lightest stretch, but rainfall here can vary noticeably between years, and even typically-dry months have occasionally seen much heavier rain in years affected by La Nina.
Is Kota Bharu known for traditional crafts?›
Yes. Kelantan state is particularly known for batik, songket weaving, and the large traditional wau bulan (moon kite), and Kota Bharu is a good base for seeing all three.
Does Kota Bharu observe a different weekend?›
Yes. Kelantan observes a Friday-Saturday weekend rather than the Saturday-Sunday most of Malaysia uses, worth checking when planning around opening hours.