Typhoons in Malaysia
Typhoons only occur occasionally in Malaysia. On average, they happen about 4 times a year. The hardest hit regions are Sabah, Kedah and Sarawak.The typhoon season in the Pacific usually begins with less severe storms in April and does not end until November. The most severe typhoons usually occur in August and September.
Malaysia has certainly been affected by the foothills of several typhoons, but during the past 12 months no typhoon reached the inhabited areas on land.
Other natural hazards in Malaysia:
› Tsunamis
› The most severe cyclones in the world
Back to overview: Malaysia
Current satellite image of the western Pacific
04.06.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent typhoons in Malaysia since 2018
Rai: December 13-21, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 267 km/h
Diameter:
max. 185 km
Eye:
max. 56 km
Air pressure:
below 915 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
The typhoon did not make direct landfall in Malaysia. On December 17th, 2021 at 11:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 381 km north of Kudat in Sabah.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Tuyom in the Philippines on December 17th at 2:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Tuyom in the Philippines on December 17th at 2:00 am.
Rai: December 11-21, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 263 km/h
on land:
max. 235 km/h
Diameter:
max. 833 km
Eye:
max. 56 km
Air pressure:
below 915 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
Affected regions
Sabah
Sabah
Jawad: November 30 to December 6, 2021
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 74 km/h
on land:
max. 37 km/h
Diameter:
max. 926 km
Air pressure:
below 1000 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Kedah
Kedah
Lionrock: October 2-10, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 74 km/h
on land:
max. 19 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1241 km
Air pressure:
below 991 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Sabah
Sabah
Dianmu: September 21-26, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 65 km/h
Diameter:
max. 667 km
Air pressure:
below 1000 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The typhoon did not make direct landfall in Malaysia. On September 21st, 2021 at 11:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 532 km north of Kudat in Sabah.
Krovanh: December 17-25, 2020
Region:
Bay of Bengal
Wind speed:
max. 65 km/h
Diameter:
max. 667 km
Air pressure:
below 1000 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Sabah
Sarawak
Sabah
Sarawak
Kammuri: November 24 to December 6, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 217 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1000 km
Air pressure:
below 940 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The typhoon did not make direct landfall in Malaysia. On December 6th, 2019 at 2:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 475 km northeast of Kudat in Sabah.
Kalmaegi: November 9-22, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 161 km/h
Diameter:
max. 722 km
Air pressure:
below 964 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 2
The typhoon did not make direct landfall in Malaysia. On November 22nd, 2019 at 11:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 535 km northeast of Kudat in Sabah.
Bulbul:matmo: October 28 to November 11, 2019
Wind speed:
max. 139 km/h
Diameter:
max. 704 km
Air pressure:
below 976 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
The typhoon did not make direct landfall in Malaysia. On October 28th, 2019 at 11:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 337 km north of Kudat in Sabah.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near San Jose in the Philippines on October 28th at 8:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near San Jose in the Philippines on October 28th at 8:00 pm.
These evaluations are based on data from the National Centers for Environmental Information of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Individual data have been summarized or translated.