Bintulu weather in May

In May, Bintulu sees average daytime highs of 31°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 183 mm of rain across 22.8 wet days and about 12.1 hours of daylight. It is the 1st-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 31°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 5% of the time in May, and the air most often feels miserable.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 06 min at the start of May to 12 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Bintulu's 3rd-clearest and 12th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Bintulu's year-round climate.

Daytime high
31°
1st warmest
Overnight low
25°
12th coldest
Rainfall
183 mm
22.8 wet days
Daylight
12 h 06 min
6:20 AM – 6:28 PM
Cloud cover
81%
3rd clearest
Wind
6 km/h
12th windiest
Solar energy
5.1 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.1
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 May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 31°C through the month.

A typical May day in Bintulu reaches about 31°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 6°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 29°C and 32°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs on par with April and on par with June.

20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13125
23125
33125
43125
53125
63125
73125
83125
93125
103125
113125
123125
133125
143125
153125
163125
173125
183125
193125
203125
213125
223125
233125
243125
253125
263125
273125
283125
293125
303125
313125

How May really feels in Bintulu

Once humidity and wind are folded in, May 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 May is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Bintulu weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 1st-warmest and 9th-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 May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 5% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 12% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 83%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
11387
21387
31486
41585
51486
61486
71486
81486
91585
101684
111684
121684
131684
141882
151981
161981
171981
182080
192080
202080
212080
222080
231981
241882
251882
261882
271882
281882
291882
301684
311684

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Bintulu gets around 183 mm of rain over 22.8 wet days in May. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 73% and peaks near 82% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
182
281
381
480
579
679
778
877
976
1075
1174
1273
1372
1471
1570
1669
1769
1868
1968
2068
2169
2269
2370
2470
2571
2672
2772
2873
2973
3074
3174

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, May lands in the miserable band about 87% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1892
2892
3991
4991
5991
61090
71090
81189
91189
101189
111189
121189
131288
141288
151288
161288
171387
181387
191387
201486
211486
221486
231486
241585
251585
261585
271684
281684
291783
301783
311882

Wind in May

Winds average 6 km/h in May, the calmest month.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 6 km/h on the calmest days to 6 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
16calm
26calm
36calm
46calm
56calm
66calm
76calm
86calm
96calm
106calm
116calm
126calm
136calm
146calm
156calm
166calm
176calm
186calm
196calm
206calm
216calm
226calm
236calm
246calm
256calm
266calm
276calm
286calm
296calm
306calm
316calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 06 min at the start of May to 12 h 12 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 6 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 6:22 AM to 6:20 AM, and sunset from 6:28 PM to 6:30 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.16:226:28
212.16:226:28
312.16:216:28
412.16:216:28
512.16:216:28
612.16:216:28
712.16:216:28
812.16:216:28
912.16:206:28
1012.16:206:28
1112.16:206:28
1212.16:206:28
1312.16:206:28
1412.16:206:28
1512.16:206:28
1612.16:206:28
1712.16:206:28
1812.16:206:29
1912.16:206:29
2012.26:206:29
2112.26:206:29
2212.26:206:29
2312.26:206:29
2412.26:206:29
2512.26:206:29
2612.26:206:29
2712.26:206:30
2812.26:206:30
2912.26:206:30
3012.26:206:30
3112.26:206:30

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.1 kWh/m².

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 — May's 5.1 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.1Bright
25.1Bright
35.1Bright
45.1Bright
55.1Bright
65.1Bright
75.1Bright
85.1Bright
95.1Bright
105.1Bright
115.1Bright
125.1Bright
135.1Bright
145.1Bright
155.1Bright
165.1Bright
175.1Bright
185.1Bright
195.1Bright
205.1Bright
215.1Bright
225.1Bright
235.1Bright
245.1Bright
255.1Bright
265.1Bright
275.1Bright
285.1Bright
295.0Bright
305.0Bright
315.0Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Bintulu

In seasonPeak

In May, 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 May a good time to visit Bintulu?

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

3.1
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
4.5
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

May is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Bintulu.

What to pack for Bintulu in May

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

In May, Bintulu sees daytime highs around 31°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 23 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Bintulu in May

The nearest coast averages about 30°C in May — 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 May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 14 (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 May

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where May 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
May 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).