Chennai Weather and Climate: A Comprehensive Guide
Chennai formally known as madras has a tropical wet and dry climate. The hottest part of the year is from May to early June and we would avoid travelling to the city in this period. Chennai gets most of its seasonal rainfall from the north–east monsoon winds, from mid–October to mid–December. Cyclones in the Bay of Bengal sometimes hit the city. The best time of year to visit Chennai is from January until March.
Average day and night temperature
In Chennai temperatures are generally consistent throughout the year. On average, daytime temperatures range from a very hot 36°C in May to a comfortable 29°C in January. Nighttime temperatures can drop, with averages reaching 23°C in January.
The mean minimum and maximum temperatures throughout the year
Check out our detailed temperature page for more information.
Precipitation and rainy days
Chennai experiences significant rainfall throughout the year, averaging 1021 mm of precipitation annually. The seasons in Chennai, bring significant changes in precipitation. The wettest month, November, receives heavy rainfall, with an average of 231 mm of precipitation. This rainfall is distributed across 10 rainy days. In contrast, the driest month, February, experiences much less rainfall, totaling 9.4 mm over a single rainy day. These distinct seasonal differences provide diverse experiences throughout the year.The mean monthly precipitation over the year, including rain, hail and snow
The average number of days each month with precipitation
For more details, please visit our Chennai Precipitation page.
Sunshine over the year
In Chennai, summer days are longer and more sunny, with daily sunshine hours peaking at 10.0 hours in May. As the darker season arrives, the brightness of the sun becomes less. July sees a soft sun for only 4.8 hours per average day.Monthly hours of sunshine
Daily hours of sunshine
Average humidity
The relative humidity is high throughout the year in Chennai.
The city experiences its highest humidity in October, reaching 76%. In June, the humidity drops to its lowest level at 63%.
Relative humidity over the year
broken clouds and rain overcast and heavy rain broken clouds and thunderForecast for Chennai
3 m/s
3 m/s
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The best time of year to visit Chennai in India
Other facts from our historical weather data:Most rainfall (rainy season) is seen in October and November.
Yes, the months of January, February, March and April are very dry.
May has an average maximum temperature of 36°C and is the hottest month of the year.
The coolest month is January with an average maximum temperature of 29°C.
November tops the wettest month list with 231 mm of rainfall.
February is the driest month with 9 mm of precipitation.
May is the sunniest month with an average of 301 hours of sunshine.
No idea where to travel to this year? We have a tool that recommends destinations based on your ideal conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.
