Kuching (Sarawak) weather in May

May in Kuching: sweltering, soaked, with muggy air — a gamble, with 27 rainy days.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Kuching🇲🇾 Malaysia · Malaysia, Singapore & Sumatra · City50
  1. 48Jan
  2. 50Feb
  3. 48Mar
  4. 48Apr
  5. 50May
  6. 55Jun
  7. 60Jul
  8. 53Aug
  9. 47Sep
  10. 46Oct
  11. 47Nov
  12. 48Dec

#5 of 12 months in Kuching · #1280 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 50/100 (tier D)

Days
33°C
Nights
25°C
Wet days
27
Sun
9 h
Humidity
89%
Daylight
12 h
Kuching, Malaysia
Photo: A P · Pexels

Traveller notes on Kuching in May

Other months in Kuching

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.
Tripadvisor community · January · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
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.
Tripadvisor community · July · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Kuching's card on the map.

Kuching climate normals — May

Daytime high33°C / 91°F🔥 sweltering
Nighttime low25°C / 77°F
Feels like (high)40°C / 104°F
Sea temperature32°C / 89°F♨️ bath-warm
Rainfall281 mm / 11.1 in⛈ soaked
Rainy days27 days
Humidity89%💦 very humid
Dew point25°C / 77°F
Sunshine9 h/day
Daylight12.2 h
Wind7 km/h / 4 mph
Air quality (US AQI)54🙂 moderate

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Kuching in May

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.

BusyMid-year break in Malaysia, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

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.

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What's on in Kuching in May

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Season

    Drier months

    1 May – 30 Sep · usuallyDry season

    The stretch between monsoons, when the Bako boat landing is reliable and the trails at Kubah and Gunung Gading are not ankle-deep. Sarawak is never dry, only less wet.

  • Season

    Wet season

    MonsoonRisk

    27 rainy days and about 281 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.

    from the climate normals

What's on around the world in May →

Where is Kuching?

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Kuching in May — FAQ

Is May a good time to visit Kuching?
May in Kuching: sweltering, soaked, with muggy air — a gamble, with 27 rainy days. It ranks #5 of 12 months for Kuching on SeasonMap's comfort score (50/100).
What is the weather like in Kuching in May?
In May, Kuching averages a daily high of 33°C and a low of 24.8°C, with about 281.4 mm of rain over roughly 26.8 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Kuching in May?
Kuching has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 54 in May.