Chennai has a warm subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters.
Temperatures peak in May and drop to their lowest in January, while rainfall is highest during autumn months.
Humidity remains moderate throughout the year, especially in autumn, creating warm and humid conditions.
| Month | 🌤️ | High | Low | Avg | Humid % | Rain (mm) | Wind (m/s) | Solar (kWh/m²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 🌞 | 29.8°C | 18.9°C | 24.3°C | 77% | 25 | 2.8 | 4.79 |
| February | 🌞 | 33.4°C | 19.5°C | 26.4°C | 72% | 12 | 2.7 | 5.65 |
| March | 🔥 | 37.3°C | 21.2°C | 29.3°C | 66% | 11 | 3.0 | 6.20 |
| April | 🔥 | 39.5°C | 24.2°C | 31.8°C | 65% | 19 | 3.5 | 6.36 |
| May | 🔥 | 40.5°C | 26.0°C | 33.3°C | 64% | 51 | 3.7 | 5.72 |
| June | 🔥 | 38.4°C | 25.1°C | 31.8°C | 64% | 76 | 3.7 | 5.02 |
| July | ☔ | 37.0°C | 24.5°C | 30.8°C | 68% | 107 | 3.5 | 4.69 |
| August | ☔ | 36.2°C | 24.3°C | 30.2°C | 72% | 133 | 3.2 | 4.80 |
| September | ☔ | 34.7°C | 23.8°C | 29.2°C | 77% | 136 | 2.6 | 4.98 |
| October | 🌧️ | 33.1°C | 23.0°C | 28.0°C | 80% | 233 | 2.5 | 4.52 |
| November | 🌧️ | 30.3°C | 20.8°C | 25.5°C | 83% | 299 | 3.3 | 4.02 |
| December | ☔ | 28.8°C | 19.6°C | 24.2°C | 81% | 142 | 3.4 | 4.10 |
Showing average climate conditions across 45 years (1981–2025)
🧥 Light layers are sufficient — this Mild Winter stays cool without prolonged hard freezes.
🌤️ Limit midday outdoor exposure and stay hydrated — this is an intense Hot Summer.
☔ Heavy Rainfall expected — carry rain gear and plan outdoor activities around these months.
Monthly averages · 1981–2025 climate normals · °C
Temperatures rise steadily from spring, peak in May, and gradually decline through autumn into winter.
These seasonal patterns offer comfortable conditions year-round, with warm summers and mild winters.
Monthly rainfall · 1981–2025 seasonal trends · mm/month
Rainfall is concentrated in the autumn months. Humidity stays moderate (around 72%), peaking in autumn, which creates warm and humid conditions.
☔ Heavy Rainfall expected — carry rain gear and plan outdoor activities around these months.
Monthly averages · 1981–2025
Across 45 years of records, Chennai's temperature has remained relatively stable over the past decade. Its hottest day reached 43.3°C in May 1991, and its coldest dropped to 17.2°C in December 1981. 2019 was the warmest year overall and 1981 the coolest.
The warmest year in Chennai's recorded history was 2019 (avg: 29.4°C), while the coldest was 1981 (avg: 27.9°C).
Average annual high/low · Last 30 years · °C
Total annual precipitation · Last 30 years · mm/year
| Year | Min Temp | Avg Temp | Max Temp | Rainfall (mm) | Avg Humidity | Avg Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025 | 22.6°C | 28.5°C | 34.4°C | 1316 | 74% | 2.9 m/s |
2024 | 23.3°C | 29.2°C | 35.0°C | 1624 | 75% | 3.1 m/s |
2023 | 23.1°C | 29.0°C | 34.9°C | 1526 | 75% | 2.9 m/s |
2022 | 22.5°C | 28.3°C | 34.0°C | 1365 | 76% | 2.9 m/s |
2021 | 22.7°C | 28.5°C | 34.2°C | 1841 | 76% | 2.9 m/s |
2020 | 23.0°C | 28.6°C | 34.2°C | 1561 | 75% | 2.9 m/s |
2019 | 23.5°C | 29.4°C | 35.3°C | 1207 | 73% | 3.1 m/s |
2018 | 22.5°C | 28.9°C | 35.2°C | 832 | 71% | 3.1 m/s |
2017 | 22.8°C | 28.9°C | 35.0°C | 1290 | 72% | 3.0 m/s |
2016 | 22.5°C | 29.0°C | 35.5°C | 811 | 71% | 3.0 m/s |
Showing 1 to 10 of 45 years
Based on 45 years of data (1981–2025), May is typically the hottest month in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, with average high temperatures around 40.5°C.
January is the coldest month in Chennai, with average low temperatures around 18.9°C.
November receives the most rainfall with approximately 299 mm, while March is the driest with 11 mm.
The highest recorded temperature was 43.3°C in May 1991. This is part of the historical record spanning 1981–2025.
The lowest recorded temperature was 17.2°C in December 1981.
This page covers 45 years of climate data from 1981 to 2025. As new data is added to the database the page automatically reflects the updated coverage.
Chennai receives the most sunlight in April with an average solar radiation of 6.36 kWh/m²/day. This solar radiation data, sourced from NASA POWER, is useful for solar energy planning and agriculture in Tamil Nadu.
All climate data is sourced from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite and model data. It provides monthly averages for temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation.
All weather data is sourced from NASA POWER (Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources), a NASA project providing solar and meteorological data for renewable energy, building efficiency, and agricultural research.
