Ranau weather in December

In December, Ranau sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 19°C, with 173 mm of rain across 25.4 wet days and about 11.7 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 2% of the time in December, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 42 min at the start of December to 11 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Ranau's 11th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Ranau's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
10th warmest
Overnight low
19°
9th coldest
Rainfall
173 mm
25.4 wet days
Daylight
11 h 42 min
6:20 AM – 5:59 PM
Cloud cover
87%
11th clearest
Wind
4 km/h
5th windiest
Solar energy
4.21 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.8
out of 10

Ranau is human settlement in Malaysia.

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 28°C through the month.

A typical December day in Ranau reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 19°C overnight — a 9°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 26°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs on par with November and on par with January.

15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12819
22819
32819
42819
52819
62819
72819
82819
92819
102819
112819
122819
132819
142819
152819
162819
172819
182819
192819
202819
212819
222819
232819
242819
252719
262719
272719
282719
292719
302719
312719

How December really feels in Ranau

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

December sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Ranau 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
Jan27° / 19°17022.311.74.4
Feb28° / 19°11817.811.84.7
Mar29° / 19°10917.8124.3
Apr30° / 20°9817.112.13.9
May30° / 20°13522.212.33.4
Jun30° / 19°13020.512.33.6
Jul30° / 19°11118.812.33.9
Aug30° / 19°11519.112.23.8
Sep30° / 19°11820.2123.6
Oct29° / 19°17224.211.93.5
Nov29° / 19°16324.711.73.5
Dec28° / 19°17325.411.73.8

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 2% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 7% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 91%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
11189
21090
31090
41090
51090
61090
71090
81090
9991
10991
11991
12991
13991
14991
15991
16991
17991
18991
19793
20793
21793
22793
23793
24793
25793
26793
27793
28793
29892
30892
31991

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Ranau gets around 173 mm of rain over 25.4 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 82% and peaks near 87% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
179
279
379
479
579
679
779
880
980
1081
1181
1282
1383
1484
1584
1685
1786
1886
1987
2087
2187
2286
2386
2485
2584
2683
2783
2882
2981
3080
3179

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, December lands in the muggy band about 87% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 98% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
128612
228612
328612
428612
528612
628711
728711
818811
918910
1018910
1118910
1218910
1318910
1418910
1518910
1618910
1718910
1828810
1928810
2028810
2128810
2228810
2338710
2438710
2538710
2648610
274879
284879
295869
305878
315887

Wind in December

Winds average 4 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 4 km/h on the calmest days to 4 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
14calm
24calm
34calm
44calm
54calm
64calm
74calm
84calm
94calm
104calm
114calm
124calm
134calm
144calm
154calm
164calm
174calm
184calm
194calm
204calm
214calm
224calm
234calm
244calm
254calm
264calm
274calm
284calm
294calm
304calm
314calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 42 min at the start of December to 11 h 42 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 6:13 AM to 6:27 AM, and sunset from 5:53 PM to 6:06 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.76:135:53
211.76:135:54
311.76:145:54
411.76:145:54
511.76:155:55
611.76:155:55
711.76:155:56
811.76:165:56
911.76:165:56
1011.76:175:57
1111.76:175:57
1211.76:185:57
1311.76:185:58
1411.76:195:58
1511.76:195:59
1611.76:205:59
1711.76:206:00
1811.76:216:00
1911.76:216:01
2011.76:226:01
2111.76:226:01
2211.76:236:02
2311.76:236:02
2411.76:246:03
2511.76:246:03
2611.76:256:04
2711.76:256:04
2811.76:256:05
2911.76:266:05
3011.76:266:06
3111.76:276:06

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.21 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.21 kWh/m² to a high of 5.79 kWh/m² in April across the year — December's 4.21 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.4Bright
24.4Bright
34.4Bright
44.3Bright
54.3Bright
64.3Bright
74.3Bright
84.3Bright
94.3Bright
104.3Bright
114.3Bright
124.3Bright
134.3Bright
144.3Bright
154.2Bright
164.2Bright
174.2Bright
184.2Bright
194.2Bright
204.2Bright
214.2Bright
224.2Bright
234.2Bright
244.1Bright
254.1Bright
264.2Bright
274.2Bright
284.2Bright
294.2Bright
304.2Bright
314.2Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Ranau

In seasonPeak

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

Ranau 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 Ranau?

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

3.8
Sightseeing
6th-best month of the year
4.2
Beach & pool
12th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Ranau.

What to pack for Ranau in December

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

In December, Ranau sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 19°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. About 25 days see rain.

light clothesrain gear

Sea temperature near Ranau 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 57 km away) is warmest in June at about 30°C and coldest in February near 27°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
Jan27Warm
Feb27Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr29Tropical
May30Tropical
Jun30Tropical
Jul30Tropical
Aug30Tropical
Sep30Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec29Tropical

UV index in Ranau in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Ranau peaks around March 17 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 13 at about 11 (extreme).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeMar 17UV 15Dec 13UV 11
UV index (midday)Level
Jan13Extreme
Feb15Extreme
Mar15Extreme
Apr15Extreme
May14Extreme
Jun13Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug14Extreme
Sep14Extreme
Oct13Extreme
Nov12Extreme
Dec11Extreme

Air quality in Ranau 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 Ranau is worst in September — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), and holds fairly steady the rest of the year.

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodSep 1216 µg/m³Feb 910 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb10Good
Mar11Good
Apr12Moderate
May13Moderate
Jun14Moderate
Jul15Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep16Moderate
Oct14Moderate
Nov11Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Ranau?

Ranau sits at 6.0°N, 116.7°E, 570 m above sea level, in Malaysia. The nearest listed city is Tambunan, 39 km away.

Topography around Ranau

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Ranau has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 494 m around an average of 615 m above sea level; within 16 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,761 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,023 m.

The land around Ranau is covered by trees (70%) within 3 km, trees (89%) within 16 km, and trees (86%) within 80 km.

3 km
494 m
16 km
3,761 m
80 km
4,023 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswatermangroves
December weather nearby: Tambunan 39 km · Donggongon 62 km · Kota Kinabalu 65 km · Putatan 67 km · Petagas 68 km · Kinarut 70 km · Papar 84 km · Keningau 88 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 Ranau (5.9538°, 116.6641°, elevation 570 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).