Chennai, India Climate & Monthly Averages
Chennai has a tropical wet-and-dry climate. May is the hottest month, averaging 95° by day; January is the coldest at 82°.
Rain, not cold, divides the year in 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.
The wet-and-dry rhythm at a glance
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.
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.
More climate facts for Chennai
- 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%
Choosing the right part of the year in Chennai
Choose dates by rain, not just temperature
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.
What the humidity changes
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).
Warm all year: the monthly rain pattern
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Chennai's coldest night and warmest afternoon.
January
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 11.4 h
February
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 11.3 h
- Daylight
- 11.7 h
March
- Rain
- 2 days
- Sunshine
- 11.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.0 h
April
- Rain
- 3 days
- Sunshine
- 11.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
May
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 10.8 h
- Daylight
- 12.7 h
June
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 9.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.9 h
July
- Rain
- 17 days
- Sunshine
- 8.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.8 h
August
- Rain
- 19 days
- Sunshine
- 9.0 h
- Daylight
- 12.6 h
September
- Rain
- 20 days
- Sunshine
- 9.1 h
- Daylight
- 12.2 h
October
- Rain
- 20 days
- Sunshine
- 9.5 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
November
- Rain
- 21 days
- Sunshine
- 8.1 h
- Daylight
- 11.5 h
December
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 9.5 h
- Daylight
- 11.4 h
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Chennai's coolest part of the year: January, December, November.
Monthly temperature and rain table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 82° | 72° | 6 | 1.1 in | 10.4 h/day | 11.4 h | 18% | 75% |
| February | 85° | 72° | 1 | 0.2 in | 11.3 h/day | 11.7 h | 5% | 74% |
| March | 89° | 75° | 2 | 0.4 in | 11.6 h/day | 12.0 h | 7% | 75% |
| April | 93° | 80° | 3 | 0.5 in | 11.6 h/day | 12.4 h | 9% | 76% |
| May | 95° | 82° | 6 | 3.2 in | 10.8 h/day | 12.7 h | 18% | 72% |
| June | 95° | 82° | 12 | 2.7 in | 9.6 h/day | 12.9 h | 39% | 67% |
| July | 93° | 80° | 17 | 4.4 in | 8.6 h/day | 12.8 h | 54% | 69% |
| August | 92° | 79° | 19 | 5.3 in | 9.0 h/day | 12.6 h | 61% | 73% |
| September | 90° | 79° | 20 | 5.6 in | 9.1 h/day | 12.2 h | 65% | 77% |
| October | 88° | 77° | 20 | 7.4 in | 9.5 h/day | 11.8 h | 65% | 80% |
| November | 83° | 75° | 21 | 14.0 in | 8.1 h/day | 11.5 h | 70% | 83% |
| December | 82° | 74° | 12 | 6.9 in | 9.5 h/day | 11.4 h | 40% | 79% |
How Chennai compares for rain and warmth
- Chennai averages 82°F (28°C) across the year - warmer than any other city in our 3496-city dataset.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.
How the calendar changes in warm-weather 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.
Questions about heat and rain in Chennai
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?
Chennai temperature extremes in the 2015–2024 dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.