subject: Weather in langkawi [print this page] Weather in langkawi Weather in langkawi
Langkawi is situated on peninsular Malaysia's north-western coast in the Malaccan Straits. It is an archipelago made up of about 99 islands. As Langkawi is located near the equator, it is humid, tropical equatorial climate all the way. The climate is more or less constant for an island as it is sheltered from major winds by the mainland, Malaysia on one side and Sumatra on the other. Langkawi is a very well-known holiday spot.
Ideally, tourists can visit this island anytime throughout the year but it is best between the months of November and March. Of course, there are bouts of occasional rainfalls and overcast skies but there are no extremities in weather conditions. Temperatures are quite steady during the day, ranging between 30 to 35 Celsius and in the night it ranges anywhere from 28 to 29 Celsius. Rainfall here is mainly between September and mid-November. This is attributed more by the monsoon winds. However, the rains do not act as a detriment and the weather is not affected. Langkawi and the sea around it are comparatively peaceful in contrast to other places on the eastern coast.
During the day, there is a lot of sunlight till the afternoon and later towards the evening it is overcast skies. Also between the months of April to August, there is ample sunlight and light rain, and for tourists this would also be a good time to visit and island enjoy a balance of sunshine and light rainfall. Hotels in Langkawi during peak tourist season are usually full, so it is good to book well in advance.
Usually, the hottest month here is February and the coolest month is October. Precipitation is a factor that tourists have to consider. The rainy season extends from September until mid-November, during which time it rains for at least two hours a day and also during the night.
As Langkawi is near the equator, the island clearly has only two seasons in a year i.e. the dry season and the rainy season. Summers are hot and dry and the humidity levels are very high throughout the year and it is around 80 percent. The dry season is typically between the months of November to March, and the northeast winds are predominant during this time. During summer, the weather is lovely and breezy.
The period of the wet season is between the months of April to October and it is the time of southwest and western winds which causes the precipitation. Rains are frequent and sometimes there could be heavy rains along with thunder and lightning. The annual rainfall here is around 2500mm. During the months of August and September is when there is utmost rainfall. If tourists are interested in underwater sports, like snorkelling and scuba diving, then the rainy season is not the time to visit Langkawi.
As the humidity is very high, and people sweat a lot, it is good to wear light cotton clothing. During the low tourist spell, hotel prices go down and tourists can find many discount hotels in Langkawi that suits their budget.
