Tawau weather in January
In January, Tawau sees average daytime highs of 29°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 155 mm of rain across 21.5 wet days and about 11.8 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 10th-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 48 min at the start of January to 11 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Tawau's 10th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Tawau's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- 29°
- 11th warmest
- Overnight low
- 25°
- 2nd coldest
- Rainfall
- 155 mm
- 21.5 wet days
- Daylight
- 11 h 48 min
- 6:24 AM – 6:11 PM
- Cloud cover
- 81%
- 10th clearest
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- 2nd windiest
- Solar energy
- 4.78 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 3.9
- out of 10
Tawau is A town, division and district in Sabah, Malaysia.
- Founded
- 1658
Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.
Temperature in January
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 29°C through the month.
A typical January day in Tawau reaches about 29°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 4°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.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
| Avg low (°C) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 | 25 |
| 2 | 29 | 25 |
| 3 | 29 | 25 |
| 4 | 29 | 25 |
| 5 | 29 | 25 |
| 6 | 29 | 25 |
| 7 | 29 | 25 |
| 8 | 29 | 25 |
| 9 | 29 | 25 |
| 10 | 29 | 25 |
| 11 | 29 | 25 |
| 12 | 29 | 25 |
| 13 | 29 | 25 |
| 14 | 29 | 25 |
| 15 | 29 | 25 |
| 16 | 29 | 25 |
| 17 | 29 | 25 |
| 18 | 29 | 25 |
| 19 | 29 | 25 |
| 20 | 29 | 25 |
| 21 | 29 | 25 |
| 22 | 29 | 25 |
| 23 | 29 | 25 |
| 24 | 29 | 25 |
| 25 | 29 | 25 |
| 26 | 29 | 25 |
| 27 | 29 | 25 |
| 28 | 29 | 25 |
| 29 | 29 | 25 |
| 30 | 29 | 25 |
| 31 | 29 | 25 |
How January really feels in Tawau
Once humidity and wind are folded in, January 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.
The story in January is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Tawau weather by month
How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 11th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29° / 25° | 155 | 21.5 | 11.8 | 3.9 |
| Feb | 29° / 25° | 113 | 16.6 | 11.9 | 4.2 |
| Mar | 29° / 25° | 144 | 21.9 | 12 | 3.9 |
| Apr | 29° / 25° | 163 | 25.4 | 12.1 | 3.3 |
| May | 29° / 26° | 216 | 29.5 | 12.2 | 3.0 |
| Jun | 29° / 25° | 212 | 28.1 | 12.2 | 3.1 |
| Jul | 29° / 25° | 200 | 28.1 | 12.2 | 3.3 |
| Aug | 29° / 25° | 186 | 27.9 | 12.1 | 3.3 |
| Sep | 29° / 25° | 176 | 26.6 | 12 | 3.3 |
| Oct | 29° / 25° | 214 | 28.7 | 11.9 | 3.1 |
| Nov | 29° / 25° | 192 | 27.9 | 11.8 | 3.1 |
| Dec | 29° / 25° | 190 | 26.4 | 11.8 | 3.3 |
Cloud cover in January
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 7% of the time in January.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 10% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 83%.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
| Cloudier (%) | 85 | 84 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 83 | 83 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 81 | 81 | 81 | 81 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | 85 |
| 2 | 16 | 84 |
| 3 | 17 | 83 |
| 4 | 17 | 83 |
| 5 | 17 | 83 |
| 6 | 18 | 82 |
| 7 | 18 | 82 |
| 8 | 18 | 82 |
| 9 | 18 | 82 |
| 10 | 18 | 82 |
| 11 | 18 | 82 |
| 12 | 18 | 82 |
| 13 | 18 | 82 |
| 14 | 17 | 83 |
| 15 | 17 | 83 |
| 16 | 16 | 84 |
| 17 | 16 | 84 |
| 18 | 16 | 84 |
| 19 | 16 | 84 |
| 20 | 17 | 83 |
| 21 | 17 | 83 |
| 22 | 17 | 83 |
| 23 | 17 | 83 |
| 24 | 17 | 83 |
| 25 | 18 | 82 |
| 26 | 18 | 82 |
| 27 | 18 | 82 |
| 28 | 19 | 81 |
| 29 | 19 | 81 |
| 30 | 19 | 81 |
| 31 | 19 | 81 |
Chance of precipitation in January
Tawau gets around 155 mm of rain over 21.5 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 70% and peaks near 77% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain chance (%) | 77 | 77 | 76 | 75 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 70 | 70 | 69 | 68 | 67 | 66 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 62 | 61 | 61 | 60 |
| Rain chance (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 77 |
| 2 | 77 |
| 3 | 76 |
| 4 | 75 |
| 5 | 74 |
| 6 | 74 |
| 7 | 74 |
| 8 | 73 |
| 9 | 73 |
| 10 | 73 |
| 11 | 72 |
| 12 | 72 |
| 13 | 72 |
| 14 | 72 |
| 15 | 71 |
| 16 | 71 |
| 17 | 71 |
| 18 | 70 |
| 19 | 70 |
| 20 | 69 |
| 21 | 68 |
| 22 | 67 |
| 23 | 66 |
| 24 | 66 |
| 25 | 65 |
| 26 | 64 |
| 27 | 63 |
| 28 | 62 |
| 29 | 61 |
| 30 | 61 |
| 31 | 60 |
Humidity in January
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 79% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muggy (%) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Oppressive (%) | 63 | 65 | 66 | 68 | 70 | 71 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 77 | 78 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 80 | 81 | 81 | 81 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 |
| Miserable (%) | 36 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
| Muggy (%) | Oppressive (%) | Miserable (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 63 | 36 |
| 2 | 1 | 65 | 34 |
| 3 | 1 | 66 | 33 |
| 4 | 1 | 68 | 31 |
| 5 | 1 | 70 | 29 |
| 6 | 1 | 71 | 28 |
| 7 | 1 | 73 | 26 |
| 8 | 1 | 74 | 25 |
| 9 | 1 | 75 | 24 |
| 10 | 1 | 77 | 22 |
| 11 | 1 | 78 | 21 |
| 12 | 1 | 78 | 21 |
| 13 | 1 | 79 | 20 |
| 14 | 1 | 80 | 19 |
| 15 | 1 | 80 | 19 |
| 16 | 1 | 81 | 18 |
| 17 | 1 | 81 | 18 |
| 18 | 1 | 81 | 18 |
| 19 | 1 | 82 | 17 |
| 20 | 1 | 82 | 17 |
| 21 | 1 | 82 | 17 |
| 22 | 2 | 82 | 16 |
| 23 | 2 | 83 | 15 |
| 24 | 2 | 84 | 14 |
| 25 | 2 | 84 | 14 |
| 26 | 2 | 85 | 13 |
| 27 | 2 | 86 | 12 |
| 28 | 2 | 86 | 12 |
| 29 | 2 | 87 | 11 |
| 30 | 2 | 88 | 10 |
| 31 | 1 | 89 | 10 |
Wind in January
Winds average 8 km/h in January.
Across January, daily wind ranges from about 7 km/h on the calmest days to 8 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (km/h) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Feels | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm |
| Wind speed (km/h) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | calm |
| 2 | 7 | calm |
| 3 | 7 | calm |
| 4 | 7 | calm |
| 5 | 7 | calm |
| 6 | 7 | calm |
| 7 | 7 | calm |
| 8 | 8 | calm |
| 9 | 8 | calm |
| 10 | 8 | calm |
| 11 | 8 | calm |
| 12 | 8 | calm |
| 13 | 8 | calm |
| 14 | 8 | calm |
| 15 | 8 | calm |
| 16 | 8 | calm |
| 17 | 8 | calm |
| 18 | 8 | calm |
| 19 | 8 | calm |
| 20 | 8 | calm |
| 21 | 8 | calm |
| 22 | 8 | calm |
| 23 | 8 | calm |
| 24 | 8 | calm |
| 25 | 8 | calm |
| 26 | 8 | calm |
| 27 | 8 | calm |
| 28 | 8 | calm |
| 29 | 8 | calm |
| 30 | 8 | calm |
| 31 | 8 | calm |
Sunrise & sunset in January
Daylight runs from about 11 h 48 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 0 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 6:19 AM to 6:27 AM, and sunset from 6:04 PM to 6:16 PM.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 6:19 | 6:19 | 6:20 | 6:20 | 6:21 | 6:21 | 6:21 | 6:22 | 6:22 | 6:22 | 6:23 | 6:23 | 6:23 | 6:24 | 6:24 | 6:24 | 6:25 | 6:25 | 6:25 | 6:25 | 6:26 | 6:26 | 6:26 | 6:26 | 6:26 | 6:27 | 6:27 | 6:27 | 6:27 | 6:27 | 6:27 |
| Sunset (PM) | 6:04 | 6:05 | 6:05 | 6:06 | 6:06 | 6:07 | 6:07 | 6:08 | 6:08 | 6:09 | 6:09 | 6:09 | 6:10 | 6:10 | 6:11 | 6:11 | 6:11 | 6:12 | 6:12 | 6:13 | 6:13 | 6:13 | 6:14 | 6:14 | 6:14 | 6:15 | 6:15 | 6:15 | 6:16 | 6:16 | 6:16 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11.8 | 6:19 | 6:04 |
| 2 | 11.8 | 6:19 | 6:05 |
| 3 | 11.8 | 6:20 | 6:05 |
| 4 | 11.8 | 6:20 | 6:06 |
| 5 | 11.8 | 6:21 | 6:06 |
| 6 | 11.8 | 6:21 | 6:07 |
| 7 | 11.8 | 6:21 | 6:07 |
| 8 | 11.8 | 6:22 | 6:08 |
| 9 | 11.8 | 6:22 | 6:08 |
| 10 | 11.8 | 6:22 | 6:09 |
| 11 | 11.8 | 6:23 | 6:09 |
| 12 | 11.8 | 6:23 | 6:09 |
| 13 | 11.8 | 6:23 | 6:10 |
| 14 | 11.8 | 6:24 | 6:10 |
| 15 | 11.8 | 6:24 | 6:11 |
| 16 | 11.8 | 6:24 | 6:11 |
| 17 | 11.8 | 6:25 | 6:11 |
| 18 | 11.8 | 6:25 | 6:12 |
| 19 | 11.8 | 6:25 | 6:12 |
| 20 | 11.8 | 6:25 | 6:13 |
| 21 | 11.8 | 6:26 | 6:13 |
| 22 | 11.8 | 6:26 | 6:13 |
| 23 | 11.8 | 6:26 | 6:14 |
| 24 | 11.8 | 6:26 | 6:14 |
| 25 | 11.8 | 6:26 | 6:14 |
| 26 | 11.8 | 6:27 | 6:15 |
| 27 | 11.8 | 6:27 | 6:15 |
| 28 | 11.8 | 6:27 | 6:15 |
| 29 | 11.8 | 6:27 | 6:16 |
| 30 | 11.8 | 6:27 | 6:16 |
| 31 | 11.8 | 6:27 | 6:16 |
Solar energy in January
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 4.78 kWh/m².
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.62 kWh/m² to a high of 5.56 kWh/m² in March across the year — January's 4.78 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 |
| Level | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 2 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 3 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 4 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 5 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 6 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 7 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 8 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 9 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 10 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 11 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 12 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 13 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 14 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 15 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 16 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 17 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 18 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 19 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 20 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 21 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 22 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 23 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 24 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 25 | 4.9 | Bright |
| 26 | 4.9 | Bright |
| 27 | 4.9 | Bright |
| 28 | 4.9 | Bright |
| 29 | 4.9 | Bright |
| 30 | 4.9 | Bright |
| 31 | 5.0 | Bright |
Hazard calendar for Tawau
In January, Tawau sits inside its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Tawau sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.
Is January a good time to visit Tawau?
Our two travel scores rate January for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
January is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Tawau.
What to pack for Tawau in January
From January's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In January, Tawau sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 22 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Tawau in January
The nearest coast averages about 29°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 29 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
| Comfort | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 | Tropical |
| Feb | 28 | Tropical |
| Mar | 29 | Tropical |
| Apr | 30 | Tropical |
| May | 30 | Tropical |
| Jun | 30 | Tropical |
| Jul | 29 | Tropical |
| Aug | 29 | Tropical |
| Sep | 29 | Tropical |
| Oct | 29 | Tropical |
| Nov | 29 | Tropical |
| Dec | 29 | Tropical |
UV index in Tawau in January
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 Tawau peaks around March 17 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 14 at about 11 (extreme).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13 | Extreme |
| Feb | 14 | Extreme |
| Mar | 15 | Extreme |
| Apr | 14 | Extreme |
| May | 13 | Extreme |
| Jun | 12 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 12 | Extreme |
| Nov | 12 | Extreme |
| Dec | 11 | Extreme |
Air quality in Tawau in January
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where January falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Tawau is worst in September — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.8× the cleanest month (January, 9 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 10 |
| Level | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | Good |
| Feb | 10 | Good |
| Mar | 12 | Moderate |
| Apr | 12 | Moderate |
| May | 12 | Good |
| Jun | 11 | Good |
| Jul | 12 | Good |
| Aug | 14 | Moderate |
| Sep | 16 | Moderate |
| Oct | 15 | Moderate |
| Nov | 11 | Good |
| Dec | 10 | Good |
Where is Tawau?
Tawau sits at 4.2°N, 117.9°E, 0 m above sea level, in Malaysia. The nearest listed city is Nunukan, 29 km away.
Topography around Tawau
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Tawau.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Tawau has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 26 m around an average of 4 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 670 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,290 m.
The land around Tawau is covered by water (54%) and artificial surfaces (28%) within 3 km, trees (49%) and water (40%) within 16 km, and trees (52%) and water (38%) within 80 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
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 Tawau (4.2448°, 117.8911°, elevation 0 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).