Sitting pretty 45km northeast of Kuala Terengganu, Pulau Redang is one of the largest islands off the east coast of Malaysia. A bona fide diving paradise, the island is a marine park, along with the surrounding smaller islands. With pristine white sandy beaches and plenty of resorts to choose from, Pulau Redang is a perfect holiday location. The climate on the island is tropical with the average annual temperature hovering around 30°C.
Climate
The tropical climate of Pulau Redang keeps the island from having seasonal temperatures. The warmest time of the year is during the month of May, when temperatures reach 31°C. Fortunately, the island also benefits from cooling sea breezes. The coolest temperature the island experiences dips to around 22°C in February. The rainy seasons, or monsoons, usually start during the winter months of November through to February. This season brings up to 650mm of precipitation. During these months most resorts are closed and business is slow on the island.
Summer
During the summer season, Pulau Redang receives an average temperature of 26°C, with an average high of 30°C and a low of 23°C. There is very little precipitation for a tropical climate, with an average of 144mm of rain. The humidity stays around 82 percent with seven hours of sun. Wind speeds are light and breezy during the summer, averaging about 4km/h. In August, winds will gust up to 8 and 10km/h. On clear days with low humidity, islanders can see the mainland of Malaysia from the western shore. The sea water temperature is around 29°C.
In July, the temperature begins to drop in preparation for the rainy months of winter. The rainfall also increases during this time bringing an average of 16 days of rainfall. Heading into August, temperatures dip again and rainfall averages about 178mm, about 20 days of rain.
Autumn
Autumn sees an increase in humidity, as well as a considerable amount of rain. Thereâs an average of 24 days precipitation, and in spite of the increase in humidity, the temperature slightly decreases to around 29°C. October is when places begin to close for the rainy months ahead. The average precipitation during this time largely increases to 288mm of rain. As the monsoon season starts to arrive, the ocean becomes increasingly choppy and rough. Despite the rain and the arrival of the monsoon, there is still 6 hours of sunshine to enjoy each day.
Winter
The winter months of November through to February brings the monsoons. Pulau Redang is affected by the Northeast monsoon winds, bringing stormy oceans and heavy rain. Flooding is common during this time of year, which is why most resorts close. During the monsoon season, winds become strong, creating stormy weather all over the island. The island winds hit around 10km/h with gusts up to 15km/h and storms hit the island frequently throughout the season.
November is a rainy month bringing around 650mm of rainfall and 27 days of rain, however, there is still about five hours of sun to enjoy â" when it peeks through the rain clouds. The temperature during the month of November averages at 25°C, with a high of 28°C and a low of 22°C. December receives 674mm of rain and signals the resortâs wettest time of year. The temperature stays around 22°C, the same as November. Even though December is the rainiest month the humidity averages at about 86 percent. From January to late March, wind speeds stay a constant 8-10km/h as the monsoon season comes to a close. These stronger winds help move flood waters off the island, drying it out for the coming tourist season.
February marks the end of the monsoon season with temperatures reaching a high of 29°C. The amount of rain has decreased dramatically, with only an average of 110mm. There are only about 15 days of rain during the month, as the tail of the Northeast monsoons linger. The winds generally stay calm during this month with only light breezes and small wind gusts of 8km/h. The amount of sunshine increases to about eight hours allowing the island to dry out after the monsoon rains. Tourists are not allowed on the island until late January or early February due to the unpredictable monsoon season.
Spring
Spring is the perfect season to visit Pulau Redang with fewer rainy days and the reopening of resorts. Rain averages about 120mm, with around 15 days of rain each month. These rainy days produce less rain, but maintain the tropical climate and keep the humidity under control.
March marks the beginning of the tourist season, but can still show signs of monsoon tail winds. These lingering winds can cause a rough ocean and unpleasant weather. During the month of March temperatures return to a high of 30°C, the yearly average, and a low of 22°C. April through to May brings the calmest time for winds with only light breezes around 2 to 4km/h.
In April, hotter temperatures hit the island with a high of 32°C and humidity hovers around 83 percent. There are no longer any visible signs of the monsoon season and tourists enjoy calm warm (29°C) seas and reliably great weather. In May, the hot weather reaches its peak with temperatures as high as 34°C and lows of around 24°C. May also brings very little rain with an average of 102mm of rainfall during the month. The humidity also reaches a low point with an average of 81 percent. The sun stays out for an average of 8 hours a day during the month, giving tourists plenty of time to enjoy the beach and top up their tans.