Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Hits +36.7°C — Hottest July Temperature on Record

Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur, has set a new benchmark for July heat, with temperatures soaring to +36.7°C on July 9th 2025, the highest July temperature ever recorded in the city’s meteorological history. This exceptional reading, logged earlier this week, underscores the growing trend of increasing heat extremes in Southeast Asia, even in typically humid and rain-prone urban areas.

While Kuala Lumpur is no stranger to hot and muggy weather, daily highs usually peak between 32°C and 34°C during July — a month that normally brings regular thunderstorms and tropical downpours. The +36.7°C maximum represents an anomaly of nearly 3°C above the monthly average, made more dangerous by the high humidity, which pushed heat index values (or “feels like” temperatures) close to 45°C in parts of the city.

The intense heat has prompted health and environmental warnings, with city officials urging residents to reduce outdoor activity, stay well hydrated, and check on young children and the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illness. Schools and construction sites were also advised to adjust working hours during the afternoon peak.

Across the region, similar extremes have been recorded this month, including record-challenging temperatures in Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore, as Southeast Asia continues to experience frequent and longer-lasting hot spells in 2025. Meteorologists and climate scientists warn that urban tropical centers like Kuala Lumpur are increasingly at risk from compounding heat stress due to both climate change and urban development.

As the monsoon circulation resumes, some cooling relief is expected in the coming days, though forecasters say the long-term trend points toward hotter Julys in years to come.

Source: https://www.thediplomaticaffairs.com/2022/07/25/severe-heat-waves-around-the-world/