Lahad Datu weather in May

In May, Lahad Datu sees average daytime highs of 30°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 177 mm of rain across 27.2 wet days and about 12.2 hours of daylight. It is the 1st-warmest and 2nd-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 11% of the time in May, and the air most often feels miserable.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 12 min at the start of May to 12 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Lahad Datu's 3rd-clearest and 11th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Lahad Datu's year-round climate.

Daytime high
30°
1st warmest
Overnight low
25°
12th coldest
Rainfall
177 mm
27.2 wet days
Daylight
12 h 12 min
5:56 AM – 6:10 PM
Cloud cover
75%
3rd clearest
Wind
6 km/h
11th windiest
Solar energy
4.95 kWh/m²
Travel score
2.9
out of 10

Lahad Datu is city in Sabah, Malaysia.

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 30°C through the month.

A typical May day in Lahad Datu reaches about 30°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 29°C and 31°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)
13025
23025
33025
43025
53025
63025
73025
83025
93025
103025
113025
123025
133025
143025
153025
163025
173025
183025
193025
203025
213025
223025
233025
243025
253025
263025
273025
283025
293025
303025
313025

How May really feels in Lahad Datu

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.

Lahad Datu weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 1st-warmest and 2nd-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 May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 11% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 15% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 74%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13070
22971
32971
42773
52773
62575
72575
82476
92476
102377
112377
122278
132278
142377
152476
162476
172575
182674
192674
202674
212773
222872
232872
242872
252773
262773
272773
282773
292674
302575
312674

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Lahad Datu gets around 177 mm of rain over 27.2 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 87% and peaks near 89% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
182
283
384
485
586
686
787
888
988
1089
1189
1289
1389
1489
1589
1689
1789
1888
1988
2087
2187
2287
2387
2486
2586
2686
2786
2886
2986
3086
3186

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 (%)
11882
21684
31585
41486
51387
61288
71288
81189
91189
101189
111090
121090
131090
141090
151090
161090
171090
181189
191189
201189
211189
221288
231288
241387
251387
261486
271486
281585
291684
301684
311783

Wind in May

Winds average 6 km/h in May.

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 12 min at the start of May to 12 h 18 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 5:59 AM to 5:56 AM, and sunset from 6:09 PM to 6:12 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.25:596:09
212.25:586:09
312.25:586:09
412.25:586:09
512.25:586:09
612.25:586:09
712.25:576:09
812.25:576:09
912.25:576:09
1012.25:576:09
1112.25:576:09
1212.25:576:09
1312.25:566:09
1412.25:566:10
1512.25:566:10
1612.25:566:10
1712.25:566:10
1812.25:566:10
1912.25:566:10
2012.25:566:10
2112.25:566:10
2212.25:566:11
2312.25:566:11
2412.35:566:11
2512.35:566:11
2612.35:566:11
2712.35:566:11
2812.35:566:12
2912.35:566:12
3012.35:566:12
3112.35:566:12

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 4.95 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 — May's 4.95 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.1Bright
25.1Bright
35.0Bright
45.0Bright
55.0Bright
65.0Bright
75.0Bright
85.0Bright
95.0Bright
105.0Bright
114.9Bright
124.9Bright
134.9Bright
144.9Bright
154.9Bright
164.9Bright
174.9Bright
184.9Bright
194.9Bright
204.9Bright
214.9Bright
224.9Bright
234.9Bright
244.9Bright
254.9Bright
264.9Bright
274.9Bright
284.9Bright
294.9Bright
304.9Bright
314.9Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Lahad Datu

In seasonPeak

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

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

2.9
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
4.1
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Lahad Datu in May

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

In May, Lahad Datu sees daytime highs around 30°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 27 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Lahad Datu 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 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 May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May 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 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 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
May 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).