Bintulu weather in December

In December, Bintulu sees average daytime highs of 29°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 348 mm of rain across 28.8 wet days and about 11.8 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 29°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 1% of the time in December, and the air most often feels miserable.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 48 min at the start of December to 11 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Bintulu's 12th-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Bintulu's year-round climate.

Daytime high
29°
10th warmest
Overnight low
24°
5th coldest
Rainfall
348 mm
28.8 wet days
Daylight
11 h 48 min
6:29 AM – 6:19 PM
Cloud cover
92%
12th clearest
Wind
8 km/h
3rd windiest
Solar energy
4.22 kWh/m²
Travel score
2.8
out of 10

Bintulu is town on the island of Borneo in the central region of Sarawak, Malaysia.

Founded
1862

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 29°C through the month.

A typical December day in Bintulu reaches about 29°C in the afternoon and slips back to 24°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 28°C and 31°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs on par with November and on par with January.

20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13024
23024
33024
43024
53024
63024
73024
83024
93024
103024
113024
123024
133024
143024
153024
163024
173024
182924
192924
202924
212924
222924
232924
242924
252924
262924
272924
282924
292924
302924
312924

How December really feels in Bintulu

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 31 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
31
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in December is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Bintulu weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 24°29826.111.83.2
Feb29° / 24°19221.611.93.5
Mar30° / 25°16522.6123.4
Apr30° / 25°18824.212.13.0
May31° / 25°18322.812.13.1
Jun31° / 25°17720.412.23.3
Jul31° / 25°17019.612.23.4
Aug31° / 25°19621.112.13.3
Sep30° / 25°21323.8123.1
Oct30° / 24°27427.311.92.9
Nov30° / 24°29128.411.92.7
Dec29° / 24°34828.811.82.8

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 1% of the time in December, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 3% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 96%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
1694
2694
3694
4694
5694
6694
7694
8694
9694
10694
11595
12595
13595
14496
15496
16397
17397
18298
19298
20298
21298
22298
23298
24298
25298
26298
27298
28298
29298
30397
31496

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Bintulu gets around 348 mm of rain over 28.8 wet days in December, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 92% and peaks near 94% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
194
294
394
493
593
693
793
892
992
1092
1192
1292
1392
1492
1592
1692
1792
1892
1992
2092
2193
2293
2393
2493
2593
2692
2792
2892
2992
3091
3191

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels miserable — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the miserable band about 51% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
14753
24753
34852
44852
54852
64951
74951
84951
94951
104951
114951
124951
134951
144951
154852
164852
174852
184852
194951
204951
214951
225050
235050
245050
255149
265149
275248
285248
295347
305347
315446

Wind in December

Winds average 8 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 8 km/h on the calmest days to 8 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
18calm
28calm
38calm
48calm
58calm
68calm
78calm
88calm
98calm
108calm
118calm
128calm
138calm
148calm
158calm
168calm
178calm
188calm
198calm
208calm
218calm
228calm
238calm
248calm
258calm
268calm
278calm
288calm
298calm
308calm
318calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 48 min at the start of December to 11 h 48 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 0 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 6:23 AM to 6:36 AM, and sunset from 6:13 PM to 6:26 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.86:236:13
211.86:236:13
311.86:246:13
411.86:246:14
511.86:246:14
611.86:256:14
711.86:256:15
811.86:266:15
911.86:266:16
1011.86:276:16
1111.86:276:16
1211.86:286:17
1311.86:286:17
1411.86:296:18
1511.86:296:18
1611.86:296:19
1711.86:306:19
1811.86:306:19
1911.86:316:20
2011.86:316:20
2111.86:326:21
2211.86:326:21
2311.86:336:22
2411.86:336:22
2511.86:346:23
2611.86:346:23
2711.86:356:24
2811.86:356:24
2911.86:366:25
3011.86:366:25
3111.86:366:26

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.22 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.22 kWh/m² to a high of 5.27 kWh/m² in March across the year — December's 4.22 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.4Bright
24.4Bright
34.4Bright
44.4Bright
54.4Bright
64.3Bright
74.3Bright
84.3Bright
94.3Bright
104.3Bright
114.3Bright
124.3Bright
134.3Bright
144.3Bright
154.3Bright
164.3Bright
174.2Bright
184.2Bright
194.2Bright
204.2Bright
214.2Bright
224.2Bright
234.2Bright
244.2Bright
254.2Bright
264.2Bright
274.2Bright
284.2Bright
294.2Bright
304.2Bright
314.3Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Bintulu

In seasonPeak

In December, Bintulu sits inside its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Bintulu sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.

Pacific typhoon
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Bintulu?

Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

2.8
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
3.8
Beach & pool
11th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Bintulu.

What to pack for Bintulu in December

From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In December, Bintulu sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 24°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. About 29 days see rain.

light clothesrain gear

Sea temperature near Bintulu in December

The nearest coast averages about 29°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 18 km away) is warmest in May at about 30°C and coldest in February near 28°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

26°28°30°32°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan28Tropical
Feb28Tropical
Mar29Tropical
Apr30Tropical
May30Tropical
Jun30Tropical
Jul30Tropical
Aug30Tropical
Sep30Tropical
Oct30Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec29Tropical

UV index in Bintulu in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks 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 Bintulu peaks around March 24 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near November 21 at about 11 (extreme).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeMar 24UV 15Nov 21UV 11
UV index (midday)Level
Jan13Extreme
Feb15Extreme
Mar15Extreme
Apr15Extreme
May14Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep13Extreme
Oct14Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Bintulu in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Bintulu is worst in September — around 19 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.1× the cleanest month (December, 9 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodModerateGoodSep 1518 µg/m³Dec 149 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar12Moderate
Apr12Moderate
May11Good
Jun12Good
Jul13Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep19Moderate
Oct13Moderate
Nov9Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Bintulu?

Bintulu sits at 3.2°N, 113.0°E, 8 m above sea level, in Malaysia. The nearest listed city is Sebauh, 27 km away.

Kapit

Topography around Bintulu

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Bintulu.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Bintulu has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 65 m around an average of 10 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 182 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,062 m.

The land around Bintulu is covered by trees (40%) and water (26%) within 3 km, trees (54%) and water (38%) within 16 km, and trees (70%) and water (29%) within 80 km.

3 km
65 m
16 km
182 m
80 km
1,062 m
treesgrasslandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Sebauh 27 km · Tatau 38 km · Belaga 98 km · Selangau 106 km · Niah 108 km · Mukah 109 km · Dalat 119 km · Kapit 131 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
Muslim 64%Buddhist 19%Christian 9%Hindu 6%

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 Bintulu (3.1667°, 113.0333°, elevation 8 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. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).