AI-generatedChennai at a glance
- Best time
- Jan – Feb
- Warmest month
- May · 36°
- Warmest sea
- May · 29.5°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,270 h
- Rain a year
- 1,035 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC+5:30
- Elevation
- 14 m
Climate in Chennai
Chennai has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. May is the warmest month with average highs of 36 °C, while December is the coolest at 28 °C. With around 2,270 hours of sunshine a year, Chennai is sunny; April is the sunniest month with 8.4 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: January – February
October is in the cyclone season
Keep in mindFrequent rainStorm season
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 27°
- Midday, 13:00: about 31°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 30°
- Evening, 20:00: about 28°
- Night, 23:00: about 26°
05:5917:50
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:46–06:27 · evening 17:22–18:03
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:37–05:46 · evening 18:03–18:12
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Chennai in October?
In October, Chennai is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.4 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 19 days, totalling 204 mm. On about 21 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chennai.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 52 min05:59 – 17:50
- UV index
- 11 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 15 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 70 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 21 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+5:30Asia/Kolkata
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %54 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %33 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Water bottle – drink plenty
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Chennai
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 29.1 – 29.8 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Chennai ranges from 26.6 °C in January to 29.5 °C in May. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
The sea temperature varies from year to year: in May, eight out of ten years were between 28.9 and 30.3 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 26.6° | 26.1° | 27.2° | warm |
| FebruaryFeb | 27.3° | 26.8° | 27.9° | warm |
| MarchMar | 28.4° | 28.1° | 28.9° | warm |
| AprilApr | 29.3° | 28.8° | 29.7° | very warm |
| MayMay | 29.5° | 28.9° | 30.3° | very warm |
| JuneJun | 29.2° | 28.6° | 29.9° | very warm |
| JulyJul | 28.7° | 28.1° | 29.5° | warm |
| AugustAug | 28.7° | 28.2° | 29.2° | warm |
| SeptemberSep | 28.9° | 28.5° | 29.4° | warm |
| OctoberOct | 29.4° | 29.1° | 29.8° | very warm |
| NovemberNov | 28.4° | 27.9° | 28.9° | warm |
| DecemberDec | 27.1° | 26.7° | 27.5° | warm |
Sunshine hours in Chennai
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 5.0 of 11.9 hours of daylight in Chennai, 42 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Chennai
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 11 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in August (UV 13).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 15 min
- Light brown skin
- about 20 min
- Olive skin
- about 25 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Chennai: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Chennai has about 19 rainy days with 204 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Chennai
How breezy and how cloudy Chennai is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Chennai typically peaks at 15 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting: May – Jul, Dec.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 70 % of the sky over Chennai: mostly cloudy, with about 5.0 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Chennai
How often the day gets hot in Chennai (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Chennai has about 21 hot days, with an average daytime high of 31 °C: hot and muggy. Plan outdoor activities for the morning and evening, drink a lot and take breaks in the cool.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Chennai
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Warm 20–24°
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
HotOctober: nights around 25°. Hot nights: air conditioning makes sleeping much easier. Muggy on about 31 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (21°), the warmest in May (28°). Nights stay tropical all year (20 °C and more), so a room with air conditioning or at least a fan pays off. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 350 days a year, mostly all year round.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 87 | 28° | 21° | 26.6° | 6.9 h | 4 | 17 |
| FebruaryFeb | 77 | 30° | 21° | 27.3° | 7.8 h | 1 | 7 |
| MarchMar | 62 | 33° | 23° | 28.4° | 8.2 h | 2 | 10 |
| AprilApr | 50 | 35° | 26° | 29.3° | 8.4 h | 3 | 16 |
| MayMay | 46 | 36° | 28° | 29.5° | 8.2 h | 5 | 44 |
| JuneJun | 24 | 36° | 28° | 29.2° | 5.7 h | 11 | 67 |
| JulyJul | 18 | 34° | 27° | 28.7° | 4.4 h | 15 | 80 |
| AugustAug | 22 | 33° | 26° | 28.7° | 4.6 h | 16 | 100 |
| SeptemberSep | 26 | 33° | 26° | 28.9° | 5.2 h | 17 | 105 |
| OctoberOct | 34 | 31° | 25° | 29.4° | 5.0 h | 19 | 204 |
| NovemberNov | 49 | 29° | 24° | 28.4° | 4.7 h | 17 | 253 |
| DecemberDec | 72 | 28° | 22° | 27.1° | 5.5 h | 10 | 133 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
13.09° N, 80.28° E · 14 m · Asia/Kolkata
Best time to visit Chennai
The best time to visit Chennai is from January to February. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from December to June. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from December to January. From April to August it can get very hot, with highs of up to 36 °C. Rain is most frequent from July to November; the wettest month is November with 253 mm.
Chennai through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Chennai in the dry season
Dec – Jun
Good
- 28–36 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 35 rainy days in all
Chennai in the rainy season
Jul – Nov
Poor
- 29–34 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 83 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Chennai for you.
Your best months: January
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Chennai
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
January has the better holiday weather in Chennai: score 87 against 34. In January, days are 3 °C cooler than in October. The sea is 3 °C cooler in January. January has 15 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 2 hours longer a day in January.
| Month | October | January |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 34 | 87better |
| Day high | 31° | 28° |
| Night low | 25° | 21° |
| Sea | 29.4° | 26.6° |
| Sunshine | 5.0 h | 6.9 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 19 | 4better |
| Rainfall | 204 mm | 17 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 31 | 25better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Dec – Jun
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Dec – Jan
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Peak heat
Apr – Aug
Highs of 33 °C or more
Rainy months
Jul – Nov
12 or more rainy days
Chennai month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
87January28° · Sea 27° · 7 h
In January, Chennai is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 26.6 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 17 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Chennai.
Chennai in January77February30° · Sea 27° · 8 h
In February, Chennai is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 27.3 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. On about 14 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is a good month for a holiday in Chennai.
Chennai in February62March33° · Sea 28° · 8 h
In March, Chennai is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 28.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. On about 30 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Chennai.
Chennai in March50April35° · Sea 29° · 8 h
In April, Chennai is very hot: daytime highs average 35 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 29.3 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 16 mm in total. On about 30 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Chennai.
Chennai in April46May36° · Sea 30° · 8 h
In May, Chennai is very hot: daytime highs average 36 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 28 °C. The sea averages 29.5 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 44 mm in total. On about 31 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Chennai.
Chennai in May24June36° · Sea 29° · 6 h
In June, Chennai is very hot: daytime highs average 36 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 28 °C. The sea averages 29.2 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 67 mm in total. On about 30 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chennai.
Chennai in June18July34° · Sea 29° · 4 h
In July, Chennai is very hot: daytime highs average 34 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 27 °C. The sea averages 28.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 15 days, totalling 80 mm. On about 30 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chennai.
Chennai in July22August33° · Sea 29° · 5 h
In August, Chennai is very hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 16 days, totalling 100 mm. On about 29 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chennai.
Chennai in August26September33° · Sea 29° · 5 h
In September, Chennai is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 17 days, totalling 105 mm. On about 28 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chennai.
Chennai in September34October31° · Sea 29° · 5 h
In October, Chennai is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.4 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 19 days, totalling 204 mm. On about 21 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chennai.
Chennai in October49November29° · Sea 28° · 5 h
In November, Chennai is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 28.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 17 days, totalling 253 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is a so-so month for a holiday in Chennai.
Chennai in November72December28° · Sea 27° · 6 h
In December, Chennai is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 27.1 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 133 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in Chennai.
Chennai in DecemberChennai compared
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Chennai vs. Mahabalipuram
In October the holiday weather in Chennai and Mahabalipuram is about equally good (score 34 vs. 38). During the day Mahabalipuram is 1 °C cooler than Chennai. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Chennai | Mahabalipuram |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 34 | 38 |
| Daytime high | 31° | 30° |
| Sea | 29° | 29° |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 19 | 20 |
| Best time | Jan – Feb | Jan – Apr |
Through the year
India in October: the best places
In October, Chennai ranks 28 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Kanniyakumari29°28°74
- 2Calangute30°29°71
- 3Rameswaram28°29°70
- 4Murdeshwar30°29°68
- 5Gokarna30°29°68
- 6Mahabalipuram30°29°67
- 7Auroville30°29°67
- 8Mahé28°29°66
- 28ChennaiThis page31°29°34
Planning a trip to Chennai
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Chennai in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Chennai has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 80) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 21).
- 54
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 34 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 8.3 h of sun a day
- 2 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming
Keep in mind: Peak heat, Storm season
- 42
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 36 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 7.7 h of sun a day
- 6 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming
Keep in mind: Peak heat, Storm season
- 21
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Poor
- 33 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 4.5 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Peak heat, Frequent rain
- 34
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 31 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 5.0 h of sun a day
- 19 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 80
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
ExcellentBest holidays
- 28 °C by day
- Sea 27 °C
- 6.2 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming, Sightseeing & walks
Keep in mind: Storm season
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 10 h 25 min
- Distance
- 8,230 km
- Time zone
- UTC+5:30
- Jet lag
- About 5 days (5 h east)
Rule of thumb for flying east: for a few days before, go to bed and get up a little earlier, and get plenty of morning light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Storm season
Chennai lies in an area that cyclones from the northern Indian Ocean can reach. The cyclone season runs from April to June and from October to December, with most storms in May and in November. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
- January
- February
- March
- April: Season
- May: Peak
- June: Season
- July
- August
- September
- October: Season
- November: Peak
- December: Season
Official season dates of the regional warning centres (NOAA, JMA, IMD, Météo-France, BoM); not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions about Chennai
When is the best time to visit Chennai?
The best time to visit Chennai is from January to February. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Chennai?
The sea temperature in Chennai ranges from 26.6 °C in January to 29.5 °C in May. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Chennai in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 29.4 °C – almost as warm as a bath.
What is the warmest month in Chennai?
May is the warmest month, with average highs of 36 °C and nights around 28 °C. December is the coolest month at 28 °C.
When does it rain most in Chennai?
Rain is most frequent from July to November; the wettest month is November with 253 mm. The driest month is February with 7 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Chennai get?
Chennai gets around 2,270 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is April with 8.4 hours a day; in July there are 4.4 hours a day.
What time zone is Chennai in?
Chennai uses the time zone Asia/Kolkata, at UTC+5:30 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Chennai?
A nonstop flight from London to Chennai takes about 10 h 25 min, for a straight-line distance of about 8,230 km.
When is cyclone season in Chennai?
Chennai lies in an area that cyclones from the northern Indian Ocean can reach. The cyclone season runs from April to June and from October to December, with most storms in May and in November. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
Which school holidays are best for Chennai?
Chennai has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 80) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 21). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 54, May half-term 42, Summer holidays 21, October half-term 34, Christmas holidays 80.
Near Chennai
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Chennai
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Chennai's – good alternatives.