Chennai Temperature by Month

Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India enjoys a stable climate, with daytime temperatures staying close to 32°C (90°F) throughout the year. Explore the full monthly breakdown below.

The temperature in Chennai changes very little across the seasons, maintaining a similar climate throughout the year. Maximum daytime temperatures range from a comfortable 29°C (84°F) in December to a very hot 36°C (97°F) in May. Nighttime lows range from 29°C (84°F) in May to 23°C (73°F) in December.

The chart below illustrates the average maximum day and minimum night temperatures in Chennai by month:

Daily lows are most common between 4 AM and 6 AM. By 3 PM temperatures reach their daily high, driven by peak solar heating. May, the warmest month of the year, receives 301 hours of sunshine.

The chart below shows the average temperature throughout the year:

Chennai's average annual maximum temperature is 32°C (90°F). To put that in context, here's how it compares to a few well-known destinations:

Rome, Italy averages 20°C (68°F) annually, with reliably warm summers and comfortable winters.

Queenstown, New Zealand averages 10°C (50°F) annually, remember seasons are flipped, so its coldest months fall in June and July.

Chicago, USA averages 15°C (59°F) annually, known for extreme seasonal swings, from bitterly cold winters to warm summers.

Adelaide, Australia averages 21°C (70°F) a year, with warm summers, mild winters, and relatively low rainfall year-round.

Temperature alone doesn't tell the whole story, humidity plays a big role in how warm or cold it actually feels. High humidity in summer makes the heat feel more intense, particularly once temperatures climb above 25°C. In winter, the same humidity can make cold air feel sharper than the thermometer suggests.

In Chennai, December is the coolest month, with average highs of 29°C (84°F) and humidity around 71%, considered high. In May, the warmest month, temperatures average 36°C (97°F) with 68% humidity, conditions that feel high. For a full picture, see our humidity page.

Climate temperature data is typically calculated as a 30-year average. This smooths out year-to-year variability and gives a more reliable picture of what a place is actually like, rather than what happened in any single unusual year.

The readings come from a range of sources, land-based weather stations, ocean buoys, ships, and satellites. That data is collected by weather services around the world, then pooled, quality-checked, and averaged to produce the climate records you see here.

For cities and regions with significant elevation, altitude is one of the biggest factors shaping local temperatures. As a rule of thumb, temperatures fall by around 6°C for every 1,000 metres gained, so a city at 2,000 metres will typically be around 12°C cooler than a city at sea level in the same region. Higher ground also tends to see more dramatic day-to-night temperature swings, since thinner air loses heat faster after sunset.

For more on Chennai's weather, including monthly rainfall, sunshine hours, and humidity, visit our Chennai climate page.