The climate of Tawau
Nestled in
Malaysia,
Tawau enjoys a consistent tropical rainforest climate, also referred to as Af in the Köppen climate classification. This involves a high level of humidity, infrequent temperature fluctuations, and substantial year-round rainfall.
Across Tawau, temperatures see minimal variation throughout the year, ranging from 22.4°C (72.3°F) up to a high of 32.4°C (90.3°F). The rainfall varies month to month, with the lowest precipitation occurring in
April, at 90mm (3.54"), and the highest in
July, at 207mm (8.15"). The number of rainy days each month stays fairly consistent, fluctuating between ten and fourteen days.
Sea temperatures contribute significantly to Tawau's climate. There is not much variation, with temperatures ranging from 28°C (82.4°F) to 29.9°C (85.8°F) throughout the year. The daylight hours are equally consistent, averaging around 12.1 hours per day, while sunshine hours slightly vary, peaking at 7.5 hours in
May.
One of the extraordinary weather patterns is a sharp increase in rainfall from 90mm (3.54") in April to 207mm (8.15") in July, more than doubling within a span of three months.
The best time to visit Tawau
Taking into account the climatological parameters,
April emerges as the most opportune time to visit
Tawau. With the lowest average rainfall of 90mm (3.54") across ten days, visitors can anticipate drier and clear skies. The temperatures are comfortably warm, ranging between 23.1°C (73.6°F) to 32.3°C (90.1°F), and the sea is inviting at 29.4°C (84.9°F). The daylight hours are appealing, with an average of 12.2 hours daily, and sunshine hours peak at 7.4, providing ample opportunity to soak up the tropical sun.
The worst time to visit Tawau
As per weather conditions, the month of
July stands out as the least attractive time for travel. The rainfall peaks this month with 207mm (8.15") disbursed over 14 days, which can seriously dampen outdoor plans. Temperatures hover between 22.8°C (73°F) to 31.3°C (88.3°F). The sea temperature and daylight hours are still favorable, but the increased rainfall could likely disrupt beach and other outdoor activities.
Spring weather in Tawau
In
Tawau, spring falls between
March to
May, marked by gradually climbing temperatures and fluctuating rainfall. March starts off with temperatures between 22.6°C (72.7°F) to 31.9°C (89.4°F), and May ends slightly warmer, from 23.5°C (74.3°F) to 32.4°C (90.3°F). Rainfall goes from 101mm (3.98") in March, drops to 90mm (3.54") in
April, then surges to 126mm (4.96") in May. Visitors can enjoy between 12.1 to 12.3 daylight hours and around seven sunshine hours.
Summer weather in Tawau
June to
August make up the summer months. Despite it being summer, rainfall is at its highest, peaking in
July with 207mm (8.15"). June and August have rainfall averages of 162mm (6.38") and 202mm (7.95") respectively. Temperatures range from a low of 23.3°C (73.9°F) in June to a high of 31.5°C (88.7°F) in August. Sunbathers can take advantage of approximately twelve hours of daylight each day.
Autumn weather in Tawau
In the autumn season,
September to
November, temperatures range from a low of 22.7°C (72.9°F) up to a high of 32°C (89.6°F). Rainfall decreases slowly over the period, with September recording 179mm (7.05"), and November marking 150mm (5.91"). Daylight hours diminish slightly to an average of 12 per day, and visitors can expect approximately six hours of sunshine per day.
Winter weather in Tawau
December to
February constitute the winter season in
Tawau. The temperature ranges from a cooler 22.4°C (72.3°F) in December and
January, to a high of 31.6°C (88.9°F) in January. Rainfall continues to lessen, with February having the second lowest rainfall of the year at 102mm (4.02"). The daylight hours lessen slightly to an average of 11.9 per day, but sunshine hours remain consistent at approximately 6 per day.
Weather in January
As the new year begins in
Tawau,
Malaysia, hot and humid weather conditions set in, comparable to the preceding month of
December. High temperatures of up to 31.6°C (88.9°F) and low temperatures of 22.4°C (72.3°F) ensure a continued tropical climate.
Weather in January »Weather in February
February experiences a marginal drop in temperatures from those in
January but keeps up with the tropical climate that characterises
Tawau,
Malaysia. With the lessened rainfall, the region begins to dry off, making the landscape more navigable.
Weather in February » Weather in March
Coming off from
February,
March experiences slightly higher temperatures and a further reduction in rainfall, experiencing only 101mm (3.98") throughout the monh. This leads to a warm and relatively dry atmosphere around
Tawau,
Malaysia.
Weather in March »
Weather in April
Moving forward into
April,
Tawau,
Malaysia, observes a sustained increment in temperatures, maintaining the tropical feel. The sea temperature peaks, making water activities like swimming and surfing irresistible. Incidence of rainfall dribbles down further, marking a lesser number of wet days in the month.
Weather in April »Weather in May
May, in
Tawau,
Malaysia, steps into peak year temperatures, considering the prior month's warmer trend. Rainfall, however, begins to rise gradually, indicating the start of a wetter phase in the weather cycle. Although rainfall is present, sunny days substantially prevail due to heightened sunshine hours.
Weather in May » Weather in June
With
June arrives a minor drop in temperatures from those in
May, still enough to uphold the warm conditions of
Tawau,
Malaysia. Rainfall significantly increases, making it a wet month considering the progression seen since May. These rainy conditions contribute to a knock down in daily sunshine hours when compared with May.
Weather in June »
Weather in July
July brings along marginally lower temperatures than
June, with an increased rainfall amount of 207mm (8.15"). This makes
Tawau,
Malaysia, a typically wet region during this month. Notwithstanding the heavier rainfall, sunshine hours are more or less constant, indicating relatively clear skies between rain showers.
Weather in July » Weather in August
In
August, slight increases in both high and low temperatures are experienced as compared to
July. The city continues to experience heavy rainfall, with a slightly lower volume than the preceding month. Despite the wet conditions, sunshine hours remain stable, offering a fair amount of brightness during the daytime.
Weather in August »Weather in September
As
September rolls into
Tawau,
Malaysia, a trend similar to that in
August persists with slightly higher temperatures. A minor decrease in precipitation signifies a slightly drier month than August, albeit still dramatically wet.
Weather in September »
Weather in October
October observes temperatures marginally higher than those in
September, preserving the warmth
Tawau,
Malaysia is known for. While the rainfall reduces slightly from September, it still marks a notably wet month. Lower sunshine hours than seen in September depict a lesser duration of clear skies during the day.
Weather in October » Weather in November
November in
Tawau,
Malaysia experiences no drastic change in temperatures when compared to
October and keeps up the overall warm weather. A downward shift in rainfall records a relatively drier atmosphere than the previous month.
Weather in November » Weather in December
Rounding the year off in
December,
Tawau,
Malaysia witnesses a minor drop in temperatures from
November but maintains the tropical warmth. Rainfall further deescalates, notching down the city's wetness, declaring an end to the heavier monsoon season.
Weather in December »