When is the dry season in Malaysia in 2026?

MetMalaysia splits the year into the Southwest Monsoon (late May to September), the Northeast Monsoon (November to March), and two inter-monsoon transitions. The Southwest Monsoon is the drier national stretch for most of Peninsular Malaysia. East-coast districts often see June and July among their driest months, while west-coast cities such as Kuala Lumpur and Penang still get short convective storms and, on the southwest coast, early-morning "Sumatra" squalls from May to August.

Inter-monsoon months (roughly April and October–early November) can bring heavy afternoon storms even when people casually call the calendar "dry." Always read the current MetMalaysia outlook rather than memorising one fixed chart: Weather and Rain.

West-coast living in Kuala Lumpur and Penang usually feels most usable in the Southwest Monsoon for outdoor markets, condo pool weeks, and less flooded underpasses. Humidity and heat remain high: Humidity and Summer heat. Clearer skies also raise haze odds when Sumatran fires burn: Air quality.

Sabah is the main exception. MetMalaysia notes it often stays wetter (monthly totals over about 200 mm) during the Southwest Monsoon because of typhoon-tail moisture crossing from the Philippines: Living in Kota Kinabalu and Typhoon risk. Highlands stay cooler but not drought-dry: Highland climate.