Tamil Nadu Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Tamil Nadu, India in May.

Planning a journey to Tamil Nadu, India this May and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in Tamil Nadu in May

Tamil Nadu, India is a region in India. Tamil Nadu, India has a wide variety of climate types. During May, you can expect temperatures that range from warm to very hot and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is warm in Bikkatti at 28°C (82°F) to very hot in Tiruvannāmalai at 40°C (104°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 27°C (81°F) in Tiruvannāmalai and 20°C (68°F) in Bikkatti. In Tamil Nadu, India, May typically stands out as the hottest month of the year. If you're planning a visit during this time, it would be wise to come prepared. Packing light and breathable summer cloths will ensure you stay comfortable throughout your stay.

For a closer look at conditions across Tamil Nadu, India, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Covelong with an average of 39 mm (1.5 in) to heavy rainfall in Bikkatti with 314 mm (12 in).

Average sunshine

May brings good sunshine to many areas. Chennai sees around 301 hours of sunlight, great for visitors looking for bright days.

Explore Tamil Nadu by month

Best Places to Visit in Tamil Nadu in May

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Tamil Nadu.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Tamil Nadu

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in Tamil Nadu, India?

Temperature range in Tamil Nadu (May)

Precipitation variation in Tamil Nadu (May)

Chennai

In May Chennai generally has extremely high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 36°C (97°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 29°C (84°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
34°C (93°F)
36°C (97°F)
36°C (97°F)
Min temperature
27°C (81°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Monthly sun hours
291 hours
301 hours
230 hours
Monthly rainfall
18 mm (0.7 in)
40 mm (1.6 in)
73 mm (2.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
a single day
2 days
4 days
Weather conditions

Kodaikānāl

In May Kodaikānāl generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 20°C (68°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
31°C (88°F)
30°C (86°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
20°C (68°F)
20°C (68°F)
20°C (68°F)
Monthly sun hours
211 hours
193 hours
116 hours
Monthly rainfall
192 mm (7.6 in)
287 mm (11 in)
264 mm (10 in)
Monthly rainy days
6 days
8 days
6 days
Weather conditions

Coimbatore

In May Coimbatore generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 34°C (93°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
37°C (99°F)
34°C (93°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
24°C (75°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly rainfall
48 mm (1.9 in)
83 mm (3.3 in)
129 mm (5.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
3 days
5 days
6 days
Weather conditions

Pondicherry

In May Pondicherry generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 34°C (93°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 29°C (84°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
33°C (91°F)
34°C (93°F)
34°C (93°F)
Min temperature
28°C (82°F)
29°C (84°F)
28°C (82°F)
Monthly rainfall
35 mm (1.4 in)
44 mm (1.7 in)
48 mm (1.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
a single day
2 days
3 days
Weather conditions

Ooty

In May Ooty generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 20°C (68°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
29°C (84°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
19°C (66°F)
20°C (68°F)
19°C (66°F)
Monthly rainfall
129 mm (5.1 in)
214 mm (8.4 in)
265 mm (10 in)
Monthly rainy days
5 days
8 days
8 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Tamil Nadu, in India.

In our records: India May extremes

Notable May records observed across cities in India in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • In our records, the warmest May day in India reached 50°C (122°F) in Ahmedabad on May 19, 2016.

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Tamil Nadu in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Chennai 36°C (97°F) 29°C (84°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Kodaikānāl 30°C (86°F) 20°C (68°F) 287 mm (11 in)
Coimbatore 34°C (93°F) 24°C (75°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Pondicherry 34°C (93°F) 29°C (84°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)
Ooty 29°C (84°F) 20°C (68°F) 214 mm (8.4 in)
Kanyakumari 32°C (90°F) 27°C (81°F) 77 mm (3 in)

Tamil Nadu weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Tamil Nadu, India in May?

May in Tamil Nadu, India brings poor weather. In Chennai, daytime temperatures are typically around 36°C (97°F) and nighttime lows hover near 29°C (84°F).

What is the average temperature in Tamil Nadu, India in May?

Daytime temperatures in Chennai peak at roughly 36°C (97°F) in May, dropping to about 29°C (84°F) overnight.

Does Tamil Nadu, India get a lot of rain in May?

Rain is generally moderate to light in Tamil Nadu, India during May, with Chennai averaging close to 40 mm (1.6 in).

Is May a Good Time to Visit Tamil Nadu, India?

In our opinion, May may not be the ideal time to visit Tamil Nadu, India due to the typically poor weather in Chennai.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in January offering mostly perfect weather in Chennai. On the other hand, the months of April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Tamil Nadu.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to India? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in India.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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