Chennai, India Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Chennai
Temperature barely moves in Chennai - 6°C between the average May and the average January. Rainfall does the work instead: 14.0 inches (356 mm) in November against 5 mm (0.2 in) in February.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: May - highs near 95°F (35°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 82°F (28°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 108°F (42°C) high · 62°F (17°C) low
- Wettest month: November (21 rainy days) · Sunniest: March (11.6 h sun/day)
- Climate type: tropical wet-and-dry
- Annual swing: 6°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 7°C
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 8
- Average humidity: 75%
Temperatures through the year
January bottoms out at 82°F (28°C) in daylight, 72°F (22°C) after dark. May is the warm end of the year, averaging 95°F (35°C) by day and 82°F (28°C) overnight. Average highs hold at or above 30°C for 8 months of the year, March through October being the unbroken run.
Rain, sun and snow
Days and nights are about 7°C apart on average - narrower than about 86% of the cities we track. 3 months average under 20 mm of rain, the longest unbroken stretch running February through April. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 108°F (42°C) and bottoms at 62°F (17°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records.
How Chennai compares
- Chennai averages 82°F (28°C) across the year - warmer than any other city in our 3496-city dataset.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 82° | 72° | 6 | 1.1 in | 10.4 h/day | 75% |
| February | 85° | 72° | 1 | 0.2 in | 11.3 h/day | 74% |
| March | 89° | 75° | 2 | 0.4 in | 11.6 h/day | 75% |
| April | 93° | 80° | 3 | 0.5 in | 11.6 h/day | 76% |
| May | 95° | 82° | 6 | 3.2 in | 10.8 h/day | 72% |
| June | 95° | 82° | 12 | 2.7 in | 9.6 h/day | 67% |
| July | 93° | 80° | 17 | 4.4 in | 8.6 h/day | 69% |
| August | 92° | 79° | 19 | 5.3 in | 9.0 h/day | 73% |
| September | 90° | 79° | 20 | 5.6 in | 9.1 h/day | 77% |
| October | 88° | 77° | 20 | 7.4 in | 9.5 h/day | 80% |
| November | 83° | 75° | 21 | 14.0 in | 8.1 h/day | 83% |
| December | 82° | 74° | 12 | 6.9 in | 9.5 h/day | 79% |
Chennai month by month
Chennai weather in January
January brings highs around 82°F (28°C), lows near 72°F (22°C), about 6 wet days - typically the coldest month of the year in Chennai.
Chennai weather in February
February brings highs around 85°F (30°C), lows near 72°F (22°C), about 1 wet days - typically the driest month of the year in Chennai.
Chennai weather in March
March brings highs around 89°F (32°C), lows near 75°F (24°C), about 2 wet days - typically the sunniest month of the year in Chennai.
Chennai weather in April
April brings highs around 93°F (34°C), lows near 80°F (27°C), about 3 wet days.
Chennai weather in May
May brings highs around 95°F (35°C), lows near 82°F (28°C), about 6 wet days - typically the hottest month of the year in Chennai.
Chennai weather in June
June brings highs around 95°F (35°C), lows near 82°F (28°C), about 12 wet days.
Chennai weather in July
July brings highs around 93°F (34°C), lows near 80°F (27°C), about 17 wet days.
Chennai weather in August
August brings highs around 92°F (33°C), lows near 79°F (26°C), about 19 wet days.
Chennai weather in September
September brings highs around 90°F (32°C), lows near 79°F (26°C), about 20 wet days.
Chennai weather in October
October brings highs around 88°F (31°C), lows near 77°F (25°C), about 20 wet days.
Chennai weather in November
November brings highs around 83°F (29°C), lows near 75°F (24°C), about 21 wet days - typically the wettest month of the year in Chennai.
Chennai weather in December
December brings highs around 82°F (28°C), lows near 74°F (23°C), about 12 wet days.
Seasons in Chennai
March through May
Through March through May, Chennai is punishingly hot: 92°F (34°C) by day, 79°F (26°C) after dark, and rain comes on about 10 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 11.3 hours of sun a day. With the moisture factored in, afternoons feel hotter than the reading suggests - the humidity and dew point converter shows why.
June through August
Through June through August, Chennai runs at full heat: 93°F (34°C) by day, 81°F (27°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 48 of the 90 days.
September through November
September through November brings hot afternoons here - highs near 87°F (31°C), nights near 77°F (25°C), and rain falls on around 61 of the 90 days.
December through February
Through December through February, Chennai sits firmly in the heat: 83°F (29°C) by day, 72°F (22°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 20 days across the season. Daylight is generous - around 10.4 hours of sun a day.
Climate questions, answered
How much do temperatures drop at night in Chennai?
Is Chennai cold in winter?
What is the average temperature in Chennai?
How hot does Chennai get in summer?
Does Chennai have seasons?
Best time to visit Chennai
Aim for December to March if you get the choice: humidity and rainfall are at their lowest, which is what actually varies here, and highs average 85°F (29°C) against roughly 5 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in December.
Pack for Chennai with lightweight, breathable clothing and serious sun protection, a compact umbrella or rain shell and moisture-wicking fabrics for the humidity. Note the gap between afternoon and night: May pairs 95°F (35°C) with 82°F (28°C).
Chennai temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.