Chennai Climate & Weather Averages
India · Tropical Savanna climate · Data averaged from 2020-01-01 to 2024-12-31 (5 years)
Best Time to Visit Chennai
Based on temperature comfort, low rainfall, and sunshine hours, the best months to visit Chennai are:
February, March, April
Scores based on ideal temperature (18-28°C), low precipitation, and high sunshine. February scores 82/100.
Chennai has a Tropical Savanna climate with hot summers and warm winters. The warmest month is June with an average temperature of 30.7°C (87.3°F), while January is the coldest at 25.3°C (77.5°F). Annual precipitation averages 1550.0mm spread across approximately 222.0 rainy days per year, with November being the wettest month at 443.3mm and February the driest at 7.7mm. The city receives an average of 7.5-11.6 hours of sunshine per day, with the sunniest months being March and April. Humidity remains relatively consistent throughout the year, averaging around 76.0% annually, while average wind speeds reach 18.5 km/h. The overall annual mean temperature is 28.0°C (82.4°F), reflecting the tropical savanna conditions shaped by Chennai's latitude (13.08°) and surrounding geography. For travelers, the best time to visit is February, March, April, when temperatures are comfortable and rainfall is lower.
Chennai's climate is defined by its coastal location on the Bay of Bengal. The city receives most of its rainfall during the northeast monsoon from October to December. I found the best time for exploring the city's temples and beaches is January to March, when the weather is dry and temperatures are at their most comfortable. The summer months are intensely hot, with temperatures pushing 40°C.
Seasonal Climate Overview
Spring (Mar-May)
Average temperature 29.2°C (84.6°F), rainfall 37.2mm, sunshine 11.2 hrs/day, humidity 75.1%. Warm season conditions prevail. Expect around 10.2 rainy days per month.
Summer (Jun-Aug)
Average temperature 29.7°C (85.5°F), rainfall 118.0mm, sunshine 9.2 hrs/day, humidity 71.5%. Warm season conditions prevail. Expect around 24.7 rainy days per month.
Autumn (Sep-Nov)
Average temperature 27.5°C (81.5°F), rainfall 267.6mm, sunshine 8.7 hrs/day, humidity 80.5%. Warm season conditions prevail. Expect around 25.7 rainy days per month.
Winter (Dec-Feb)
Average temperature 25.5°C (77.9°F), rainfall 93.7mm, sunshine 10.2 hrs/day, humidity 76.9%. Warm season conditions prevail. Expect around 13.5 rainy days per month.
Monthly Temperature Averages (°C / °F)
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Mean Temp |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28.1°C (82.6°F) | 22.5°C (72.5°F) | 25.3°C (77.5°F) |
| February | 29.5°C (85.1°F) | 22.4°C (72.3°F) | 25.8°C (78.4°F) |
| March | 31.5°C (88.7°F) | 24.0°C (75.2°F) | 27.5°C (81.5°F) |
| April | 33.4°C (92.1°F) | 26.4°C (79.5°F) | 29.5°C (85.1°F) |
| May | 34.8°C (94.6°F) | 27.6°C (81.7°F) | 30.6°C (87.1°F) |
| June | 35.3°C (95.5°F) | 27.7°C (81.9°F) | 30.7°C (87.3°F) |
| July | 33.3°C (91.9°F) | 26.4°C (79.5°F) | 29.3°C (84.7°F) |
| August | 33.2°C (91.8°F) | 26.1°C (79.0°F) | 29.0°C (84.2°F) |
| September | 32.6°C (90.7°F) | 25.9°C (78.6°F) | 28.7°C (83.7°F) |
| October | 30.9°C (87.6°F) | 24.9°C (76.8°F) | 27.7°C (81.9°F) |
| November | 28.3°C (82.9°F) | 23.9°C (75.0°F) | 26.0°C (78.8°F) |
| December | 28.0°C (82.4°F) | 23.3°C (73.9°F) | 25.5°C (77.9°F) |
Monthly Precipitation (mm)
| Month | Avg Rainfall | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 43.4 mm | |
| February | 7.7 mm | |
| March | 10.8 mm | |
| April | 11.9 mm | |
| May | 88.9 mm | |
| June | 71.7 mm | |
| July | 140.3 mm | |
| August | 141.9 mm | |
| September | 144.4 mm | |
| October | 215.2 mm | |
| November | 443.3 mm | |
| December | 230.0 mm |
Monthly Rainy Days (avg days with rain > 0.1mm)
| Month | Avg Rainy Days | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 14.4 | |
| February | 5.4 | |
| March | 5.6 | |
| April | 10.0 | |
| May | 15.0 | |
| June | 20.8 | |
| July | 25.8 | |
| August | 27.4 | |
| September | 25.4 | |
| October | 25.6 | |
| November | 26.2 | |
| December | 20.6 |
Monthly Humidity (%)
| Month | Avg Humidity | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 76.9% | |
| February | 74.1% | |
| March | 76.0% | |
| April | 76.4% | |
| May | 73.0% | |
| June | 67.5% | |
| July | 72.1% | |
| August | 74.9% | |
| September | 77.2% | |
| October | 80.5% | |
| November | 83.9% | |
| December | 79.8% |
Monthly Wind Speed (avg max km/h)
| Month | Avg Max Wind | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 16.5 km/h | |
| February | 16.4 km/h | |
| March | 18.5 km/h | |
| April | 21.3 km/h | |
| May | 20.8 km/h | |
| June | 20.2 km/h | |
| July | 19.1 km/h | |
| August | 17.7 km/h | |
| September | 16.9 km/h | |
| October | 15.4 km/h | |
| November | 19.1 km/h | |
| December | 19.7 km/h |
Monthly UV Index (avg max)
| Month | UV Index | Risk Level | Bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | — | — | |
| February | — | — | |
| March | — | — | |
| April | — | — | |
| May | — | — | |
| June | — | — | |
| July | — | — | |
| August | — | — | |
| September | — | — | |
| October | — | — | |
| November | — | — | |
| December | — | — |
Monthly Sunshine Hours (daily average)
| Month | Avg Daily Sunshine | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 10.3 hrs | |
| February | 11.3 hrs | |
| March | 11.6 hrs | |
| April | 11.6 hrs | |
| May | 10.4 hrs | |
| June | 10.0 hrs | |
| July | 8.2 hrs | |
| August | 9.4 hrs | |
| September | 9.0 hrs | |
| October | 9.6 hrs | |
| November | 7.5 hrs | |
| December | 9.1 hrs |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hottest month in Chennai?
June is the hottest month with an average temperature of 30.7°C (87.3°F).
What is the coldest month in Chennai?
January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 25.3°C (77.5°F).
What is the rainiest month in Chennai?
November is the wettest month with an average of 443.3mm of precipitation. The city experiences about 222.0 rainy days per year.
When is the best time to visit Chennai?
The best time to visit Chennai is during February, March, April, when temperatures are comfortable and rainfall is lower.
Cities with Similar Climate (Tropical Savanna)
Other Cities in India
Data Source: Open-Meteo historical archive (2020-01-01 to 2024-12-31). Daily measurements aggregated into monthly climate normals. Coordinates: 13.08°, 80.27°. Timezone: Asia/Kolkata. Last updated: 2026-07-30.