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Climate in Chennai (Tamil Nadu)


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours

Flag - India

Chennai, where it is located


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Climate chart - Chennai
The climate of Chennai (or Madras) is tropical, with a rainy season from July to December and a dry season from January to May. The wettest period is from mid-October to mid-December, due to the north-east monsoon or retreating monsoon.
The city is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and is located in southeastern India, at 13 degrees north latitude, on the coast of the Bay of Bengal.
In June, the summer monsoon begins on the south-west coast of India, but the south-east side is protected by the Western Ghats, so the rains are not abundant. However, the hottest time of the year is the one before the monsoon, from late May to early June. At the end of May 2003, the temperature reached 45 °C (113 °F). Instead, the coolest period (or the least hot) is from November to January.

Chennai

Chennai is in the path of tropical cyclones. Cyclones typically occur from April to December, although south-eastern India is normally affected only from mid-October to December, and more rarely in May. In 2011, the city was hit by cyclone Thane in the last two days of December.

Best Time



The best months to visit Chennai are January and February, as they are the least hot within the dry season. From March to May, it is still the dry season but it is very hot.

Chennai - Climate data


In Chennai, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 25.4 °C, that of the warmest month (May) is of 33 °C. Here are the average temperatures.
Chennai - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
Temperatures (°C)
MonthMinMaxMean
January20.730.125.4
February21.631.826.7
March23.634.228.9
April26.136.131.1
May27.538.433
June2737.732.3
July263631
August25.43530.2
September25.134.629.9
October24.432.828.6
November2330.626.8
December21.529.625.6
Year24.333.929.05

Precipitation amounts to 1235 millimeters per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from 5 millimeters in the driest month (February) to 310 millimeters in the wettest one (November). Here is the average precipitation.
Chennai - Average precipitation
MonthRain (mm)Days
January253
February51
March151
April252
May504
June5511
July8516
August12518
September12015
October26516
November31016
December15510
Year1235113

The sea temperature ranges from 26.5 °C in January to 30 °C in May. Here are the average sea temperatures.
Chennai - Sea temperature
MonthTemperatures (°C)
January26.5
February27
March28.5
April29.5
May30
June29.5
July29
August29
September29
October29
November28.5">
December27
Year28.6

There are on average around 2850 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
Chennai - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January7.5230
February8.5240
March9.5290
April10295
May9.5300
June8235
July4.5145
August6190
September6.5195
October8.5255
November8.5260
December7210
Year7.82850

Chennai - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020
(January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December)


January, the least warm month of the year, is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 25.4 °C, with a minimum of 20.7 °C and a maximum of 30.1 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 18 °C.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 25 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 7.1 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 26.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.


February is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 26.7 °C, with a minimum of 21.6 °C and a maximum of 31.8 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 18.5 °C.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to only 5 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 40 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 74% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 8 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 27.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.


March is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 28.9 °C, with a minimum of 23.6 °C and a maximum of 34.2 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 21 °C.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 15 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 5 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 9.5 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 28.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.


April is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 31.1 °C, with a minimum of 26.1 °C and a maximum of 36.1 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 23.5 °C.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 39.5 °C.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 25 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 11.3 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 29.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.


May, the hottest month of the year, is generally a scorchingly hot month. The average temperature is of 33 °C, with a minimum of 27.5 °C and a maximum of 38.4 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 24 °C.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 42.5 °C.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 50 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of 12.7 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 29.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.


June is generally a scorchingly hot month. The average temperature is of 32.3 °C, with a minimum of 27 °C and a maximum of 37.7 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 23.5 °C.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 40.5 °C.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 55 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is of 13.1 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 29.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.


July is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 31 °C, with a minimum of 26 °C and a maximum of 36 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 23 °C.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 39 °C.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 85 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 50 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of 12 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 29.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.


August is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 30.2 °C, with a minimum of 25.4 °C and a maximum of 35 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 22.5 °C.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 125 mm, distributed over 18 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of 11.3 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 28.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.


September is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 29.9 °C, with a minimum of 25.1 °C and a maximum of 34.6 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 22.5 °C.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 120 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 9.5 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 29.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.


October is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 28.6 °C, with a minimum of 24.4 °C and a maximum of 32.8 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 21.5 °C.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 265 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 6.7 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 29.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.


November is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 26.8 °C, with a minimum of 23 °C and a maximum of 30.6 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 20.5 °C.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 310 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 6.9 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 28.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.


December is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 25.6 °C, with a minimum of 21.5 °C and a maximum of 29.6 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 19 °C.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 155 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 7.7 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 27.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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