Lahad Datu weather in March

In March, Lahad Datu sees average daytime highs of 30°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 123 mm of rain across 21 wet days and about 12 hours of daylight. It is the 8th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 30°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 15% of the time in March, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 54 min at the start of March to 12 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is Lahad Datu's 2nd-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Lahad Datu's year-round climate.

Daytime high
30°
8th warmest
Overnight low
24°
4th coldest
Rainfall
123 mm
21 wet days
Daylight
12 hours
6:17 AM – 6:15 PM
Cloud cover
71%
2nd clearest
Wind
7 km/h
4th windiest
Solar energy
5.12 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.8
out of 10

Lahad Datu is city in Sabah, Malaysia.

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

Temperature in March

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 30°C through the month.

A typical March day in Lahad Datu reaches about 30°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, March runs on par with February and on par with April.

20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12924
22924
32924
42924
52924
62924
73024
83024
93024
103024
113024
123024
133024
143024
153024
163024
173024
183024
193024
203024
213024
223024
233024
243024
253024
263025
273025
283025
293025
303025
313025

How March really feels in Lahad Datu

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

Lahad Datu weather by month

How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 8th-warmest and 10th-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 March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 15% of the time in March.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 19% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 67%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12872
22872
32872
42971
52971
63070
73070
83367
93367
103367
113367
123466
133466
143565
153565
163565
173565
183565
193565
203565
213466
223466
233466
243466
253466
263466
273565
283565
293664
303763
313862

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitation

Lahad Datu gets around 123 mm of rain over 21 wet days in March. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 68% and peaks near 73% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
163
263
363
463
563
664
764
864
964
1064
1164
1265
1365
1465
1566
1667
1767
1868
1969
2069
2170
2271
2372
2472
2573
2673
2773
2873
2973
3073
3172

Humidity in March

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, March lands in the oppressive band about 85% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
118910
218910
318811
418811
518811
618712
718712
808812
908812
1008911
1108911
1208911
1308911
1408911
1508911
1608911
1708911
1808911
1908812
2008713
2108614
2208515
2308416
2408317
2508119
2608020
2707921
2807723
2907624
3007525
3107426

Wind in March

Winds average 7 km/h in March.

Across March, daily wind ranges from about 6 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
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
276calm
286calm
296calm
306calm
316calm

Sunrise & sunset in March

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 54 min at the start of March to 12 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 6 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 6:23 AM to 6:11 AM, and sunset from 6:17 PM to 6:13 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.96:236:17
211.96:236:17
311.96:226:17
411.96:226:17
511.96:226:17
611.96:216:17
711.96:216:16
811.96:216:16
911.96:206:16
1011.96:206:16
1111.96:196:16
1211.96:196:16
1312.06:196:16
1412.06:186:16
1512.06:186:15
1612.06:176:15
1712.06:176:15
1812.06:166:15
1912.06:166:15
2012.06:166:15
2112.06:156:15
2212.06:156:14
2312.06:146:14
2412.06:146:14
2512.06:136:14
2612.06:136:14
2712.06:126:13
2812.06:126:13
2912.06:116:13
3012.06:116:13
3112.06:116:13

Solar energy in March

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 5.12 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 — March's 5.12 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.0Bright
25.0Bright
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
285.2Bright
295.2Bright
305.2Bright
315.2Bright
Planning a trip in March

Hazard calendar for Lahad Datu

In seasonPeak

In March, 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 March a good time to visit Lahad Datu?

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

3.8
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
5.1
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Lahad Datu in March

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

In March, Lahad Datu sees daytime highs around 30°C and nights near 24°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 21 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Lahad Datu in March

The nearest coast averages about 29°C in March — 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 March

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in March 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 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 March

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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