Alor Setar in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Alor Setar sees average daytime highs around 30°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 240 mm of rain over about 35 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 29°C in early December to 31°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 17% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Winter is Alor Setar's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. Alor Setar has little temperature swing across the year, so its calendar seasons blur — the season framing matters less here than for a place with four distinct seasons. For the whole year in context, see Alor Setar's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 30°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 25°C
- Rainfall
- 240 mm
- 35 wet days
- Avg wind
- 13 km/h
- Travel score
- 4.5
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Alor Setar in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 29°C in early December to 31°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Alor Setar reaches about 30°C and drops to 25°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Alor Setar
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 90 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in winter is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Alor Setar weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30° / 25° | 53 | 9.3 | 11.7 | 4.7 |
| Feb | 31° / 25° | 58 | 9.7 | 11.8 | 4.3 |
| Mar | 31° / 26° | 132 | 18.4 | 12 | 3.6 |
| Apr | 30° / 26° | 193 | 25.7 | 12.1 | 3.0 |
| May | 30° / 26° | 243 | 26 | 12.3 | 3.0 |
| Jun | 30° / 26° | 184 | 21.3 | 12.3 | 3.4 |
| Jul | 30° / 26° | 190 | 22.2 | 12.3 | 3.6 |
| Aug | 29° / 26° | 232 | 23.6 | 12.2 | 3.5 |
| Sep | 29° / 26° | 259 | 26 | 12 | 3.2 |
| Oct | 29° / 26° | 320 | 28.6 | 11.9 | 3.0 |
| Nov | 29° / 25° | 234 | 25 | 11.7 | 3.3 |
| Dec | 29° / 25° | 129 | 15.6 | 11.7 | 4.4 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 17% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Alor Setar gets around 240 mm of rain over 35 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 13 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 42 min in early December to 11 h 54 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 5.4 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Alor Setar
In winter, Alor Setar overlaps its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Alor Setar sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.
Is winter a good time to visit Alor Setar?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a reasonable time to visit Alor Setar for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Alor Setar in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Alor Setar sees daytime highs around 30°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 35 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Alor Setar in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 29°C across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea offshore is warmest in May at about 31°C and coldest in January near 28°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 |
| Comfort | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28 | Tropical |
| Feb | 29 | Tropical |
| Mar | 30 | Tropical |
| Apr | 30 | Tropical |
| May | 31 | Tropical |
| Jun | 31 | Tropical |
| Jul | 30 | Tropical |
| Aug | 30 | Tropical |
| Sep | 30 | Tropical |
| Oct | 30 | Tropical |
| Nov | 29 | Tropical |
| Dec | 29 | Tropical |
UV index in Alor Setar in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 12 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Alor Setar peaks around February 19 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near July 18 at about 10 (extreme).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 11 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 12 | Extreme |
| Feb | 14 | Extreme |
| Mar | 13 | Extreme |
| Apr | 13 | Extreme |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 10 | Extreme |
| Aug | 11 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 12 | Extreme |
| Nov | 10 | Extreme |
| Dec | 11 | Extreme |
Air quality in Alor Setar in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Alor Setar is worst in July — around 29 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), and holds fairly steady the rest of the year.
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 21 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 23 | 20 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21 | Moderate |
| Feb | 20 | Moderate |
| Mar | 24 | Moderate |
| Apr | 27 | Moderate |
| May | 26 | Moderate |
| Jun | 29 | Moderate |
| Jul | 29 | Moderate |
| Aug | 27 | Moderate |
| Sep | 28 | Moderate |
| Oct | 27 | Moderate |
| Nov | 23 | Moderate |
| Dec | 20 | Moderate |
Where is Alor Setar?
Alor Setar sits at 6.1°N, 100.4°E, 7 m above sea level, in Malaysia. The nearest listed city is Kampung Alor Mengkudu, 5.0 km away.
Topography around Alor Setar
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Alor Setar.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Alor Setar has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 16 m around an average of 5 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 200 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,254 m.
The land around Alor Setar is covered by artificial surfaces (63%) within 3 km, cropland (55%) and water (22%) within 16 km, and trees (51%) and water (35%) within 80 km.
Malaysia travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 1
- Exercise Normal Precautions
- Power plugs
- Type C / G / M
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 32% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $13,125
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.0 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 95%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 0.7
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 22.5
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Upper middle
- World Bank
- English
- High
- EF EPI 581
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Alor Setar (6.121°, 100.3601°, elevation 7 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.