March is one of the warmer months of the year in Chennai, with average highs near 37.3°C and lows around 21.2°C (mean 29.3°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 11 mm of rainfall and 66% relative humidity across the period.
March is one of the warmer months of the year in Chennai. Across 45 years of records, the warmest March in Chennai was 2001 — when the month averaged 31.1°C — while the coldest was 2008 at 26.5°C. Typical March days reach 37.3°C with nights near 21.2°C. The long-term March temperature trend is broadly flat.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 29.0°C | 29.6°C | 29.0°C | 29.4°C | 29.3°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg High | 37.0°C | 37.9°C | 36.9°C | 37.5°C | 37.1°C | +0.1°C |
| Avg Low | 21.0°C | 21.1°C | 21.2°C | 21.3°C | 21.5°C | +0.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 10 mm | 4 mm | 22 mm | 7 mm | 13 mm | +3 mm |
March temperatures in Chennai have risen by about 0.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
March has ranged from a record low of 18.8°C (2000) to a record high of 39.4°C (2001).
Rainfall in March is one of the drier months, averaging 11 mm, with a wettest year of 151 mm.
One of the best times to visit Chennai
March is one of the best times to visit Chennai. Expect days averaging 37.3°C and nights around 21.2°C (mean 29.3°C) — close to Chennai's yearly average — with low rainfall (11 mm), so conditions are generally comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor plans.
| Year | High | Low | Avg | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37.4°C | 20.0°C | 28.7°C | 15 mm | 70% | 2.6 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2024 | 37.4°C | 22.7°C | 30.0°C | 0 mm | 64% | 3 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2023 | 35.4°C | 21.5°C | 28.4°C | 60 mm | 71% | 2.9 m/s | 6 |
| 2022 | 37.2°C | 21.2°C | 29.2°C | 3 mm | 68% | 2.9 m/s | 6 |
| 2021 | 38.4°C | 20.3°C | 29.3°C | 0 mm | 70% | 2.2 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2020 | 36.9°C | 23.0°C | 30.0°C | 1 mm | 63% | 2.9 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2019 | 38.4°C | 22.9°C | 30.6°C | 0 mm | 62% | 3.3 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2018 | 36.6°C | 19.7°C | 28.1°C | 21 mm | 67% | 2.6 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2017 | 37.1°C | 20.4°C | 28.7°C | 7 mm | 65% | 3.3 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2016 | 38.4°C | 22.8°C | 30.6°C | 0 mm | 66% | 3.1 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2015 | 36.8°C | 21.5°C | 29.1°C | 3 mm | 66% | 2.9 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2014 | 38.5°C | 22.0°C | 30.3°C | 1 mm | 60% | 3 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2013 | 36.9°C | 21.0°C | 28.9°C | 35 mm | 68% | 3 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2012 | 37.2°C | 22.4°C | 29.8°C | 1 mm | 68% | 3.1 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2011 | 37.5°C | 20.0°C | 28.8°C | 0 mm | 67% | 2.7 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2010 | 37.9°C | 20.2°C | 29.0°C | 0 mm | 67% | 3 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2009 | 36.8°C | 21.2°C | 29.0°C | 18 mm | 66% | 2.6 m/s | 6 |
| 2008 ❄️ 🌧️ | 33.1°C | 19.8°C | 26.5°C | 151 mm | 77% | 2.4 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2007 | 37.9°C | 21.8°C | 29.8°C | 0 mm | 64% | 3 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2006 | 37.0°C | 21.8°C | 29.4°C | 33 mm | 70% | 2.6 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2005 | 38.0°C | 22.8°C | 30.4°C | 3 mm | 65% | 3.1 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2004 | 37.6°C | 20.4°C | 29.0°C | 3 mm | 64% | 3.1 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2003 | 37.2°C | 21.7°C | 29.4°C | 13 mm | 65% | 3 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2002 | 36.9°C | 20.8°C | 28.9°C | 0 mm | 71% | 2.8 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2001 🔥 | 39.4°C | 22.8°C | 31.1°C | 0 mm | 61% | 3.3 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2000 | 34.9°C | 18.8°C | 26.8°C | 2 mm | 71% | 2.7 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1999 | 38.6°C | 20.0°C | 29.3°C | 0 mm | 64% | 3.1 m/s | 6.6 |
| 1998 | 37.5°C | 23.1°C | 30.3°C | 0 mm | 66% | 3.3 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1997 | 36.8°C | 20.1°C | 28.5°C | 3 mm | 68% | 3.1 m/s | 6 |
| 1996 | 39.3°C | 20.3°C | 29.8°C | 0 mm | 62% | 3.2 m/s | 6 |
| 1995 | 36.8°C | 21.1°C | 29.0°C | 11 mm | 68% | 2.7 m/s | 6 |
| 1994 | 38.0°C | 19.5°C | 28.8°C | 0 mm | 68% | 2.8 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1993 | 38.1°C | 22.0°C | 30.0°C | 3 mm | 65% | 3.4 m/s | 6 |
| 1992 | 38.2°C | 19.4°C | 28.8°C | 0 mm | 61% | 2.9 m/s | 6 |
| 1991 | 38.4°C | 22.4°C | 30.4°C | 0 mm | 63% | 3.3 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1990 | 37.6°C | 23.5°C | 30.6°C | 19 mm | 67% | 3.7 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1989 | 37.7°C | 20.7°C | 29.2°C | 25 mm | 64% | 3.1 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1988 | 38.3°C | 22.7°C | 30.5°C | 3 mm | 67% | 3.1 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1987 | 36.8°C | 21.1°C | 28.9°C | 17 mm | 62% | 3 m/s | 6 |
| 1986 | 37.2°C | 21.7°C | 29.4°C | 15 mm | 72% | 3 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1985 | 36.8°C | 19.1°C | 28.0°C | 1 mm | 66% | 3.3 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1984 | 34.0°C | 20.4°C | 27.2°C | 22 mm | 76% | 2.4 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1983 | 38.7°C | 22.1°C | 30.4°C | 0 mm | 61% | 3.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 37.3°C | 21.9°C | 29.6°C | 0 mm | 65% | 3.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 36.2°C | 19.6°C | 27.9°C | 10 mm | 68% | 3.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded March data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in March is around 37.3°C with lows near 21.2°C (mean 29.3°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
March averages 11 mm of rainfall in Chennai, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 151 mm in 2008.
The hottest March reached 39.4°C in 2001. The coldest dipped to 18.8°C in 2000.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average March temperatures have risen by about 0.5°C. Daytime highs moved from 36.6°C to 37.2°C and overnight lows from 20.6°C to 21.1°C over the same span.
March is one of the warmer months of the year in Chennai and one of the drier months, so plan for around 37.3°C daytime highs and 21.2°C at night.
Not quite — March is the 7th coolest month in Chennai, averaging 29.3°C.
For March in Chennai, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 37.3°C and lows of 21.2°C.
Relative humidity in March averages 66% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in March is 3 m/s. The windiest March on record averaged 3.7 m/s (1983).
The wettest March on record was 2008 with 151 mm. On average, March sees 11 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Chennai behaves each March, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for March specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
