Kota Kinabalu in March: very hot,rain here and there
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia · Records from 2006 to 2025. Not a forecast.
Mean high32°Hottest day 34.1° (2025)
Mean low24°Coldest night 22° (2014)
Rain days8 days2-21 by year
Rainfall155mmDaylight 12.0 → 12.2 h
Kota Kinabalu's 12 months iBest: February and March
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Trip typesBeach Goodwarm seaSightseeing on foot Poorhot and muggy
Humidity84%31 muggy days
Clear days1 day15 overcast days
Mean wind8 km/hRarely windy
Sea temperature28°27.3-28.8° by year (last 6)
Sunrise / sunset (15th)06:23 / 18:28Daylight 12.0 → 12.2 h
Kota Kinabalu in March
Still on the clear side after February. The sea is calm on many days, which suits snorkelling at Manukan and Sapi in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. In years when Ramadan reaches March, Muslim residents fast by day, so local restaurant hours can change.
Kota Kinabalu in March ran hot: 32°C by day and 24°C at night. By midday the shade was the best seat in town. With about 8 rain days, showers were an occasional nuisance rather than the rule. A visitor in 2013 met 2 rain days; one in 2011 met 21. The average of 8 hid that gap.
With 31 days above 30°C on average, most of the month felt like high summer. Rain days averaged 18 mm each, so when it rained it rained properly.
Typhoonsi No tropical storm passed within 300 km in this month over the last 20 years. Typhoons: December and January
Over the past 20 years March averaged 8 rain days (1 mm or more) out of 31. Individual years ran from 2 in the driest to 21 in the wettest.
What should I wear in Kota Kinabalu in March?
Days averaged 32°C and nights 24°C. Pack a compact umbrella, T-shirts, sunscreen plus a hat, a swimsuit, and insect repellent.
Can you swim in Kota Kinabalu in March?
Sea surface temperature averaged 28°C in March, warm enough to stay in for a long swim. Year to year it ranged 27.3-28.8°C. Check local flags for waves and jellyfish on the day.
Is March a good time to visit Kota Kinabalu?
On warmth and rain days alone, Kota Kinabalu's easiest months were February and March. March ranked 2 of 12, close to the top.
Is Kota Kinabalu humid in March?
Mean relative humidity was 84%, with about 31 muggy days (dew point of 20°C or more) in the month.