Best time to visit George Town
Month-by-month weather averages for George Town.
George Town, Penang, Malaysia
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29.5 °C / 85 °F | 25.7 °C / 78 °F | 100 mm / 3.9 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 30 °C / 86 °F | 25.9 °C / 79 °F | 93 mm / 3.7 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 30.2 °C / 86 °F | 26.3 °C / 79 °F | 166 mm / 6.5 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 30.1 °C / 86 °F | 26.4 °C / 80 °F | 220 mm / 8.6 in | neither best nor good |
| May | 30.2 °C / 86 °F | 26.7 °C / 80 °F | 255 mm / 10 in | neither best nor good |
| June | 30.2 °C / 86 °F | 26.7 °C / 80 °F | 172 mm / 6.8 in | neither best nor good |
| July | 29.9 °C / 86 °F | 26.6 °C / 80 °F | 155 mm / 6.1 in | neither best nor good |
| August | 29.6 °C / 85 °F | 26.2 °C / 79 °F | 229 mm / 9 in | neither best nor good |
| September | 29.3 °C / 85 °F | 26 °C / 79 °F | 256 mm / 10.1 in | neither best nor good |
| October | 29.1 °C / 84 °F | 25.9 °C / 79 °F | 323 mm / 12.7 in | neither best nor good |
| November | 29 °C / 84 °F | 25.9 °C / 79 °F | 351 mm / 13.8 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 29.3 °C / 85 °F | 25.8 °C / 78 °F | 180 mm / 7.1 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: neither
- MMay: neither
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
No month is good for this in George Town.
George Town is hot and humid year-round, with feels-like highs above 34-37 C every month, so no month offers comfortable conditions for all-day walking and sightseeing; rain is lightest from December to February and heaviest during the September-November monsoon.
Beach and swimming
Hot, dry and sunny. Penalises the monsoon hard.
- JJanuary: best
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: good
- AApril: good
- MMay: good
- JJune: good
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: good
- Best
- January–February
- Good
- March–September, December
With a warm sea (30-32 C) and gentle, near-ideal heat all year, George Town suits the beach almost every month; January and February are driest and best, March-September and December stay good despite rising rain, and the heavy, sometimes daytime downpours of October-November are the only months to avoid.
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: average daily high 29.5 °C / 85 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, days with heavy rain 2.9 days, average daily low 25.7 °C / 78 °F, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph.
Against: wet days 16.2 days, feels like (high) 35 °C / 95 °F, precipitation 100 mm / 3.9 in.
Also on: Chinese New Year, Chinese New Year city-wide festival (5th day), Ramadan bazaars, Thaipusam.
Watch out for: Chinese New Year, Christmas and New Year high season, Ramadan.
February · best
In its favour: average daily high 30 °C / 86 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, precipitation 93 mm / 3.7 in, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, average daily low 25.9 °C / 79 °F, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph.
Against: wet days 15.3 days, feels like (high) 36.2 °C / 97 °F.
Also on: Chap Goh Meh, Chinese New Year, Chinese New Year city-wide festival (5th day), Eid-ul-Fitr (Hari Raya Puasa), Jade Emperor's Birthday (Hokkien New Year), Penang Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, Ramadan bazaars, Thaipusam.
Watch out for: Chinese New Year, Eid-ul-Fitr (Hari Raya), Ramadan.
March · good
In its favour: average daily high 30.2 °C / 86 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 8 mph, average daily low 26.3 °C / 79 °F.
Against: precipitation 166 mm / 6.5 in, wet days 22.7 days, days with heavy rain 5.2 days, feels like (high) 36.8 °C / 98 °F.
Also on: Chap Goh Meh, Eid-ul-Fitr (Hari Raya Puasa), Ramadan bazaars.
Watch out for: Eid-ul-Fitr (Hari Raya), Ramadan.
April · good
In its favour: average daily high 30.1 °C / 86 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph, average daily low 26.4 °C / 80 °F.
Against: precipitation 220 mm / 8.6 in, wet days 28 days, days with heavy rain 7.8 days, feels like (high) 36.9 °C / 98 °F.
Also on: Penang Fashion Week, Penang International Food Festival, Songkran.
May · good
In its favour: average daily high 30.2 °C / 86 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph, average daily low 26.7 °C / 80 °F.
Against: precipitation 255 mm / 10 in, wet days 27.1 days, days with heavy rain 10 days, feels like (high) 36.8 °C / 98 °F.
Also on: Dragon Boat Festival, Vesak Day.
June · good
In its favour: average daily high 30.2 °C / 86 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph, average daily low 26.7 °C / 80 °F.
Against: precipitation 172 mm / 6.8 in, wet days 20.7 days, days with heavy rain 5.9 days, feels like (high) 36.3 °C / 97 °F.
Also on: Dragon Boat Festival, Vesak Day.
July · good
In its favour: average daily high 29.9 °C / 86 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 8 mph, average daily low 26.6 °C / 80 °F.
Against: precipitation 155 mm / 6.1 in, wet days 19.8 days, days with heavy rain 5.2 days, feels like (high) 35.9 °C / 97 °F.
Also on: George Town Festival, George Town World Heritage Day, Hungry Ghost Festival.
August · good
In its favour: average daily high 29.6 °C / 85 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 8 mph, average daily low 26.2 °C / 79 °F.
Against: precipitation 229 mm / 9 in, wet days 23.8 days, days with heavy rain 7.5 days, feels like (high) 35.6 °C / 96 °F.
Also on: George Town Festival, Hungry Ghost Festival.
September · good
In its favour: average daily high 29.3 °C / 85 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 75%, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph, average daily low 26 °C / 79 °F.
Against: precipitation 256 mm / 10.1 in, wet days 25 days, days with heavy rain 9.6 days, feels like (high) 35.3 °C / 96 °F.
Also on: George Town Festival, Hungry Ghost Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Nine Emperor Gods festival.
December · good
In its favour: average daily high 29.3 °C / 85 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, average daily low 25.8 °C / 78 °F, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 9 mph.
Against: precipitation 180 mm / 7.1 in, wet days 20.9 days, days with heavy rain 5.5 days, feels like (high) 34.8 °C / 95 °F.
Also on: Chingay Parade, Penang International Dragon Boat Festival, Penang Island Jazz Festival, Pesta Pulau Pinang.
Watch out for: Christmas and New Year high season.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Jade Dragon Mountain, 2412 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 35 °C | 36.2 °C | 36.8 °C | 36.9 °C | 36.8 °C | 36.3 °C | 35.9 °C | 35.6 °C | 35.3 °C | 35.2 °C | 35 °C | 34.8 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 2.9 days | 2.5 days | 5.2 days | 7.8 days | 10 days | 5.9 days | 5.2 days | 7.5 days | 9.6 days | 13.2 days | 12.5 days | 5.5 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 6 pm | 10 pm | 8 pm | 8 pm | 3 am | 6 am | 3 am | 3 am | 6 am | 3 am | 6 pm | 5 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 9.8 h | 10.5 h | 10.3 h | 10.2 h | 9.8 h | 10 h | 9.8 h | 9.6 h | 9.1 h | 9 h | 8.5 h | 9 h |
| Relative humidity | 78% | 77% | 79% | 81% | 81% | 80% | 80% | 81% | 82% | 82% | 83% | 80% |
Sea temperature
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature 2022–2025 | 30.4 °C | 31.3 °C | 32.1 °C | 32.3 °C | 32.1 °C | 32 °C | 31.9 °C | 31.6 °C | 31.4 °C | 31.1 °C | 30.8 °C | 30.2 °C |
| Sea temperature (daily max) 2022–2025 | 30.6 °C | 31.5 °C | 32.3 °C | 32.5 °C | 32.3 °C | 32.2 °C | 32.1 °C | 31.8 °C | 31.6 °C | 31.3 °C | 31 °C | 30.4 °C |
- Very cold 10 °C or less
- Cold 10 to 15 °C
- Cool 15 to 20 °C
- Comfortable 20 to 25 °C
- Warm 25 to 28 °C
- Very warm over 28 °C
The words describe how the water feels to swim in. They are ours, not an official standard.
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 15.5 µg/m³ | 19.5 µg/m³ | 21.5 µg/m³ | 19 µg/m³ | 17.9 µg/m³ | 21.2 µg/m³ | 22.6 µg/m³ | 17.7 µg/m³ | 16.7 µg/m³ | 13 µg/m³ | 12.9 µg/m³ | 13.5 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 21.4 µg/m³ | 27.4 µg/m³ | 30.4 µg/m³ | 28.1 µg/m³ | 27.3 µg/m³ | 32.7 µg/m³ | 34.6 µg/m³ | 27.5 µg/m³ | 26.8 µg/m³ | 20.6 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | 19.8 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Chinese New Year
January and February, dates vary from year to year
- Chinese New Year city-wide festival (5th day)
January and February, dates vary from year to year
- Thaipusam
January and February, dates vary from year to year
- Ramadan bazaars
January, February and March, dates vary from year to year
- Jade Emperor's Birthday (Hokkien New Year)
February, dates vary from year to year
- Chap Goh Meh
February and March, dates vary from year to year
- Eid-ul-Fitr (Hari Raya Puasa)
February and March, dates vary from year to year
- Penang Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
February
- Songkran
April
- Penang Fashion Week
April
- Penang International Food Festival
April
- Dragon Boat Festival
May and June, dates vary from year to year
- Vesak Day
May and June, dates vary from year to year
- Hungry Ghost Festival
July, August and September, dates vary from year to year
- George Town World Heritage Day
7 July
- George Town Festival
July, August and September
- Mid-Autumn Festival
September and October, dates vary from year to year
- Nine Emperor Gods festival
September and October, dates vary from year to year
- Deepavali
October and November, dates vary from year to year
- George Town Literary Festival
November
- Pesta Pulau Pinang
November and December
- Penang Island Jazz Festival
November and December
- Penang International Dragon Boat Festival
December
- Chingay Parade
December
Worth knowing before you go
- Chinese New Year
January and February, dates vary from year to year
- Ramadan
January, February and March, dates vary from year to year
- Christmas and New Year high season
January and December
- Eid-ul-Fitr (Hari Raya)
February and March, dates vary from year to year