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

Surabaya, Indonesia JANUARY
28°
Off-peak season
24° to 32°
Wettest Month
The rainiest month of the year, with the northwest monsoon in full force.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
28°
Shoulder season
24° to 32°
Deep Monsoon
Still very wet, among the rainiest months of the year.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
28°
Off-peak season
24° to 32°
Wet Stretch
Nearly as wet as the peak months, with rain a near-daily presence.
☔ Heavy rain gear🥵 Heat protection
28°
Shoulder season
24° to 32°
Rain Eases
Rain becomes noticeably less frequent as the dry season approaches.
☔ Umbrella essential🥵 Heat protection
28°
Shoulder season
24° to 32°
Transition Month
Rain continues to ease, with sunshine hours climbing.
☔ Umbrella handy🥵 Heat protection
28°
Shoulder season
24° to 32°
Dry Season Begins
The southeast monsoon arrives, dry and comparatively cool.
☀️ Sunscreen🧥 Light layers for evenings
27°
Peak season
23° to 31°
Driest Stretch
Tied as the driest month of the year, dry and comfortably cool.
☀️ Sunscreen✨ Best sightseeing weather
27°
Peak season
22° to 32°
Coolest & Driest
The coolest month of the year and tied as the driest, with the clearest skies too.
☀️ Sunscreen✨ Best sightseeing weather
28°
Peak season
23° to 33°
Heat Builds
Still dry, but temperatures start climbing toward the hottest months of the year.
🥵 Heat protection☀️ Sunscreen
29°
Shoulder season
24° to 33°
Hot & Rain Returns
Among the hottest months of the year, with rain starting to build again.
☔ Umbrella handy🥵 Heat protection
29°
Shoulder season
25° to 33°
Hottest Month
The hottest month of the year on average, with rain becoming more frequent again.
☔ Umbrella handy🥵 Heat protection
29°
Off-peak season
24° to 33°
Monsoon Returns
The northwest monsoon settles in hard, with rain on more days than any other 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
325 mm
17 rainy days this month
Sunshine
4.5 hrs/day
35% of daylight hours
Humidity
81%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
274 mm
18 rainy days this month
Sunshine
4.5 hrs/day
35% of daylight hours
Humidity
81%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
284 mm
19 rainy days this month
Sunshine
4.5 hrs/day
35% of daylight hours
Humidity
81%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
180 mm
15 rainy days this month
Sunshine
5 hrs/day
38% of daylight hours
Humidity
78%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
160 mm
13 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6 hrs/day
46% of daylight hours
Humidity
76%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
46 mm
7 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
74%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
15 mm
5 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
72%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
15 mm
3 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8 hrs/day
62% of daylight hours
Humidity
69%
Comfortably humid
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
20 mm
4 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7.5 hrs/day
58% of daylight hours
Humidity
66%
Comfortably humid
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
99 mm
11 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
67%
Comfortably humid
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
104 mm
12 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6 hrs/day
46% of daylight hours
Humidity
73%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
221 mm
23 rainy days this month
Sunshine
4.5 hrs/day
35% of daylight hours
Humidity
78%
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, Aug, Sep
Surabaya's driest, sunniest stretch, when dry, relatively cool air moves in during the southeast monsoon. July and August are historically tied as the driest months of the year.
🌤️
Shoulder season: Feb, Apr, May, Jun, Oct, Nov
This tier spans the transition in and out of the rains. February, April, May, June, October, and November all see moderate rain, without reaching the wettest or driest extremes.
Off-peak season: Jan, Mar, Dec
The heart of the northwest monsoon, when rain is heaviest and most abundant, especially from December to March. January is historically the wettest month of the year.
Good to know
🌋
Gateway to Mount Bromo
Surabaya's airport is a common gateway for trips to Mount Bromo and the wider Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, one of Indonesia's most iconic volcanic landscapes.
🏔️
Volcanoes rise to the south
Mount Penanggungan (1,653 meters), along with the more distant Arjuno (3,319 meters) and Welirang (3,156 meters), sit south of the city.
🌀
Surabaya itself isn't directly hit by tropical cyclones
Being close to the equator on the north side of Java, Surabaya is not affected by tropical cyclones the way parts of southern Java can be. Storms instead form well to the south near the Cocos and Christmas Islands, most often from December to mid-April.
🏛️
A city with deep colonial and trading history
Surabaya's old town and heritage sites like the House of Sampoerna reflect its long history as one of Indonesia's major trading ports.
☀️
The dry season stays reliably sunny
June through September historically sees very little rain, with August in particular averaging some of the clearest skies of the year.
Top attractions
1
Mount Bromo
An active volcano within a vast sea of volcanic sand, best seen at sunrise from a nearby viewpoint, commonly visited on a day or overnight trip from Surabaya.
2
House of Sampoerna
A restored colonial-era mansion turned museum, documenting the history of Indonesia's clove cigarette industry, with a working cigarette-rolling floor visible to visitors.
3
Heroes Monument (Tugu Pahlawan)
A tall memorial obelisk commemorating the 1945 Battle of Surabaya, with an underground museum covering the city's role in Indonesia's independence struggle.
Frequently asked questions
When is monsoon season in Surabaya?
Surabaya's rainy season runs roughly from October through May, with January historically the wettest month, averaging around 325mm of rain across 17 days.
What is the best time of year to visit Surabaya?
June through September is historically Surabaya's driest, sunniest stretch, with July and August both averaging under 20mm of rain.
What is the least favorable time to visit Surabaya?
December through March historically brings the heaviest, most sustained rain of the year.
Which month has the most rain in Surabaya?
January is historically the wettest month, averaging around 325mm of rain across 17 days.
Which month is the driest in Surabaya?
July and August are historically tied as the driest months, each averaging around 15mm of rain.
How hot does Surabaya get?
November is historically the hottest month, with highs that can push toward the mid-30s Celsius.
What should I pack for Surabaya during the rainy season?
An umbrella and rain gear are worth having from around October through May, when the northwest monsoon brings the bulk of the year's rain.
Does Surabaya get cyclones?
No, not directly. Being close to the equator on the north side of Java, Surabaya itself isn't affected by tropical cyclones, though storms can form well to the south near the Cocos and Christmas Islands from November to May, more often December to mid-April.
Is Surabaya a good base for visiting Mount Bromo?
Yes. Surabaya's airport is a common gateway for trips to Mount Bromo and the wider Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, one of Indonesia's most iconic volcanic landscapes.
Is Surabaya humid year-round?
Humidity stays fairly high through the rainy season but drops noticeably during the dry months, June through September, when the air feels comparatively fresh.