Kuching (Sarawak) weather in January
January in Kuching: sweltering, soaked, with clean air — not the time — 30 rainy days.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#6 of 12 months in Kuching · #1178 of 1413 destinations to visit in January · comfort 48/100 (tier F)
- Days
- 31°C
- Nights
- 24°C
- Wet days
- 30
- Sun
- 7.9 h
- Humidity
- 91%
- Daylight
- 12 h

Traveller notes on Kuching in January
Forum posters describe January and February as Kuching's wettest months, though temperatures still hold around 28-30C and genuine sunshine remains a regular feature despite the rain. Posters describe the typical daily pattern as heavier rain settling in during the late afternoon before clearing, occasionally lingering for a full day or two, though posters note you'd be somewhat unlucky to hit that. Posters flag rougher seas this time of year as a real consideration for anyone planning a boat trip to nearby Bako National Park. Posters generally rate January as wetter and a touch cooler than the rest of the year for Kuching, workable with rain gear and flexible water-activity plans.
Other months in Kuching
Forum posters call July a genuinely good month to visit Kuching - relatively little rain, a higher chance of clear blue skies than the wetter parts of the year, though the heat and humidity that define Sarawak's climate year-round are still fully present. The one recurring caveat: seasonal haze drifting up from land-clearing fires further south can affect air quality and visibility, and posters say this varies noticeably year to year - some Julys stay mostly clear, others see a real haze episode. Overall, posters describe July as hot and humid but comparatively dry with calm seas, making it one of the better windows for river cruises and outdoor sightseeing around the city.
Add your own note from Kuching's card on the map.
Kuching climate normals — January
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Kuching in January
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyChinese New Year, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Kuching's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherKuching's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
What's on in Kuching in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Holiday
Chinese New Year
20 Jan – 25 Feb · usuallyLunar New YearClosuresBook earlyKuching's Chinese half shuts for three or four days and Carpenter Street is the place to be for it. Flights in from the peninsula are the expensive part. Source ↗
- Season
Northeast monsoon
1 Nov – 28 Feb · usuallyClosuresThe heaviest months on this coast, when the Bako crossing gets cancelled on the rough days and the up-river boats run to the water, not the timetable.
- Season
Wet season
MonsoonRisk30 rainy days and about 397 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.
from the climate normals
Where is Kuching?
Kuching in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Kuching?
- January in Kuching: sweltering, soaked, with clean air — not the time — 30 rainy days. It ranks #6 of 12 months for Kuching on SeasonMap's comfort score (48/100).
- What is the weather like in Kuching in January?
- In January, Kuching averages a daily high of 30.7°C and a low of 24.3°C, with about 397 mm of rain over roughly 29.5 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Kuching in January?
- Kuching has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 40 in January.