Lahad Datu weather in January

In January, Lahad Datu sees average daytime highs of 29°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 160 mm of rain across 24 wet days and about 11.7 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 7th-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 7% of the time in January, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 42 min at the start of January to 11 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Lahad Datu's 9th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Lahad Datu's year-round climate.

Daytime high
29°
12th warmest
Overnight low
24°
2nd coldest
Rainfall
160 mm
24 wet days
Daylight
11 h 42 min
6:24 AM – 6:08 PM
Cloud cover
81%
9th clearest
Wind
8 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
4.21 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.7
out of 10

Lahad Datu is city in Sabah, Malaysia.

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

Temperature in January

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

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

A typical January day in Lahad Datu 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 27°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs on par with December and on par with February.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12924
22924
32924
42924
52924
62924
72924
82924
92924
102924
112924
122924
132924
142924
152924
162924
172924
182924
192924
202924
212924
222924
232924
242924
252924
262924
272924
282924
292924
302924
312924

How January really feels in Lahad Datu

Once humidity and wind are folded in, January averages 26 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
26
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

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

Lahad Datu weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 12th-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 24°1602411.73.7
Feb29° / 24°11918.911.84.0
Mar30° / 24°12321123.8
Apr30° / 25°1212212.13.4
May30° / 25°17727.212.22.9
Jun30° / 25°16826.112.33.0
Jul30° / 25°16426.412.33.1
Aug30° / 25°15426.112.23.1
Sep30° / 25°16826123.0
Oct30° / 25°19427.611.92.9
Nov30° / 25°15327.211.83.0
Dec29° / 24°16427.311.73.2

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 7% of the time in January.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 82%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
11684
21783
31783
41783
51783
61882
71882
81783
91783
101783
111783
121783
131684
141783
151783
161783
171783
181783
191882
201882
211981
221981
231981
242080
252080
262080
272080
282080
292080
302278
312278

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Lahad Datu gets around 160 mm of rain over 24 wet days in January. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 78% and peaks near 86% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
186
285
384
484
583
682
782
881
981
1080
1180
1280
1379
1479
1578
1677
1777
1876
1976
2075
2175
2274
2374
2474
2573
2673
2772
2872
2971
3071
3171

Humidity in January

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, January lands in the oppressive band about 88% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
117821
217920
318019
418217
518316
618415
718514
818613
918712
1018712
1118811
1218910
1318910
141909
151909
161909
171918
182908
192908
202908
212908
222917
232917
242917
252917
262926
272926
282926
292926
302935
312935

Wind in January

Winds average 8 km/h in January, the windiest month of the year.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 8 km/h on the calmest days to 9 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
18calm
28calm
38calm
48calm
58calm
68calm
78calm
88calm
98calm
108calm
118calm
128calm
138calm
148calm
158calm
168calm
178calm
188calm
198calm
209calm
219calm
229calm
239calm
249calm
259calm
269calm
279calm
289calm
299calm
309calm
319calm

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 42 min at the start of January to 11 h 48 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 6 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 6:18 AM to 6:27 AM, and sunset from 6:01 PM to 6:13 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.76:186:01
211.76:196:02
311.76:196:02
411.76:206:03
511.76:206:03
611.76:206:04
711.76:216:04
811.76:216:05
911.76:226:05
1011.76:226:05
1111.76:226:06
1211.76:236:06
1311.76:236:07
1411.76:236:07
1511.76:246:08
1611.76:246:08
1711.76:246:09
1811.76:246:09
1911.76:256:09
2011.76:256:10
2111.86:256:10
2211.86:256:10
2311.86:256:11
2411.86:266:11
2511.86:266:12
2611.86:266:12
2711.86:266:12
2811.86:266:13
2911.86:266:13
3011.86:276:13
3111.86:276:13

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 4.21 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.18 kWh/m² to a high of 5.3 kWh/m² in April across the year — January's 4.21 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.1Bright
24.1Bright
34.1Bright
44.1Bright
54.1Bright
64.1Bright
74.1Bright
84.1Bright
94.1Bright
104.1Bright
114.1Bright
124.1Bright
134.1Bright
144.2Bright
154.2Bright
164.2Bright
174.2Bright
184.2Bright
194.2Bright
204.2Bright
214.2Bright
224.3Bright
234.3Bright
244.3Bright
254.3Bright
264.3Bright
274.3Bright
284.3Bright
294.3Bright
304.3Bright
314.4Bright
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Lahad Datu

In seasonPeak

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

Lahad Datu 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 January a good time to visit Lahad Datu?

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

3.7
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
4.6
Beach & pool
4th-best month of the year

January is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Lahad Datu.

What to pack for Lahad Datu in January

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

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

light clothesrain gear

Sea temperature near Lahad Datu in January

The nearest coast averages about 28°C in January — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 17 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
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep30Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec29Tropical

UV index in Lahad Datu in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 13 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Lahad Datu peaks around March 20 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 12 at about 11 (extreme).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeMar 20UV 14Dec 12UV 11
UV index (midday)Level
Jan13Extreme
Feb14Extreme
Mar14Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May13Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep13Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec11Extreme

Air quality in Lahad Datu in January

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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

Air quality in Lahad Datu is worst in September — around 15 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.7× the cleanest month (December, 9 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodSep 1515 µg/m³Dec 199 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb9Good
Mar11Good
Apr11Good
May11Good
Jun11Good
Jul12Good
Aug14Moderate
Sep15Moderate
Oct13Moderate
Nov10Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Lahad Datu?

Lahad Datu sits at 5.0°N, 118.3°E, 7 m above sea level, in Malaysia. The nearest listed city is Semporna, 68 km away.

NunukanSitangkaiBongaoTarakanBandar Nabawan

Topography around Lahad Datu

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Lahad Datu has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 73 m around an average of 14 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 450 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,262 m.

The land around Lahad Datu is covered by trees (32%) and water (32%) within 3 km, trees (58%) and water (34%) within 16 km, and trees (70%) and water (23%) within 80 km.

3 km
73 m
16 km
450 m
80 km
1,262 m
treesgrasslandartificial surfaceswatermangroves
January weather nearby: Semporna 68 km · Sandakan 94 km · Tawau 99 km · Nunukan 124 km · Sitangkai 125 km · Bongao 160 km · Tarakan 207 km · Bandar Nabawan 211 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 Lahad Datu (5.023°, 118.329°, 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. 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).