AI-generatedPondicherry at a glance
- Best time
- Jan – Mar
- Warmest month
- May · 33°
- Warmest sea
- Apr · 29.7°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,300 h
- Rain a year
- 1,088 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC+5:30
- Elevation
- 11 m
Climate in Pondicherry
Pondicherry 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 33 °C, while December is the coolest at 27 °C. With around 2,300 hours of sunshine a year, Pondicherry is sunny; April is the sunniest month with 8.3 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: January – March
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 30°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 29°
- Evening, 20:00: about 28°
- Night, 23:00: about 27°
06:0017:53
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 05:47–06:28 · evening 17:24–18:06
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:39–05:47 · evening 18:06–18:14
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 Pondicherry in October?
In October, Pondicherry is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 29.3 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 20 days, totalling 221 mm. On about 16 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 Pondicherry.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 53 min06:00 – 17:53
- UV index
- 11 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 16 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 72 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 16 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+5:30Asia/Kolkata
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %64 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %35 %
- 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 Pondicherry
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 29.0 – 29.7 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Pondicherry ranges from 26.8 °C in January to 29.7 °C in April. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
From November to December the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in April, eight out of ten years were between 29.4 and 30.1 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 26.8° | 26.1° | 27.4° | warm |
| FebruaryFeb | 27.4° | 27.0° | 28.0° | warm |
| MarchMar | 28.7° | 28.3° | 29.1° | warm |
| AprilApr | 29.7° | 29.4° | 30.1° | very warm |
| MayMay | 29.6° | 28.8° | 30.4° | very warm |
| JuneJun | 29.2° | 28.6° | 29.7° | very warm |
| JulyJul | 29.0° | 28.4° | 29.5° | very warm |
| AugustAug | 28.8° | 28.3° | 29.3° | warm |
| SeptemberSep | 28.9° | 28.3° | 29.4° | warm |
| OctoberOct | 29.3° | 29.0° | 29.7° | very warm |
| NovemberNov | 28.5° | 28.0° | 29.0° | warm |
| DecemberDec | 27.2° | 26.7° | 27.7° | warm |
Sunshine hours in Pondicherry
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 5.1 of 11.9 hours of daylight in Pondicherry, 43 % 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 Pondicherry
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 Pondicherry: 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, Pondicherry has about 20 rainy days with 221 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Pondicherry
How breezy and how cloudy Pondicherry 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 Pondicherry typically peaks at 16 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: Apr – Jun, Dec.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 72 % of the sky over Pondicherry: mostly cloudy, with about 5.1 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 Pondicherry
How often the day gets hot in Pondicherry (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, Pondicherry has about 16 hot days, with an average daytime high of 30 °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 Pondicherry
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 26°. 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 (23°), 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 360 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 | 90 | 27° | 23° | 26.8° | 6.8 h | 5 | 25 |
| FebruaryFeb | 87 | 29° | 23° | 27.4° | 7.9 h | 2 | 10 |
| MarchMar | 77 | 30° | 25° | 28.7° | 8.2 h | 3 | 20 |
| AprilApr | 66 | 32° | 27° | 29.7° | 8.3 h | 5 | 31 |
| MayMay | 51 | 33° | 28° | 29.6° | 8.1 h | 7 | 51 |
| JuneJun | 38 | 33° | 28° | 29.2° | 6.1 h | 10 | 52 |
| JulyJul | 31 | 33° | 27° | 29.0° | 4.8 h | 13 | 64 |
| AugustAug | 32 | 32° | 27° | 28.8° | 5.1 h | 14 | 95 |
| SeptemberSep | 36 | 32° | 27° | 28.9° | 5.6 h | 15 | 99 |
| OctoberOct | 39 | 30° | 26° | 29.3° | 5.1 h | 20 | 221 |
| NovemberNov | 49 | 28° | 24° | 28.5° | 4.5 h | 18 | 277 |
| DecemberDec | 72 | 27° | 23° | 27.2° | 5.3 h | 11 | 146 |
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
11.93° N, 79.83° E · 11 m · Asia/Kolkata
Best time to visit Pondicherry
The best time to visit Pondicherry is from January to March. 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 May to June it can get very hot, with highs of up to 33 °C. Rain is most frequent from July to November; the wettest month is November with 277 mm.
Pondicherry through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Pondicherry in the dry season
Dec – Jun
Good
- 27–33 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 42 rainy days in all
Pondicherry in the rainy season
Jul – Nov
Poor
- 28–33 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 80 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Pondicherry for you.
Your best months: January – February
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Pondicherry
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 Pondicherry: score 90 against 39. In January, days are 3 °C cooler than in October. The sea is 2 °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 | 39 | 90better |
| Day high | 30° | 27° |
| Night low | 26° | 23° |
| Sea | 29.3° | 26.8° |
| Sunshine | 5.1 h | 6.8 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 20 | 5better |
| Rainfall | 221 mm | 25 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 31 | 28better |
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
May – Jun
Highs of 33 °C or more
Rainy months
Jul – Nov
12 or more rainy days
Pondicherry month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
90January27° · Sea 27° · 7 h
In January, Pondicherry is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 26.8 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 25 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Pondicherry.
Pondicherry in January87February29° · Sea 27° · 8 h
In February, Pondicherry is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 27.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 2 days bring 10 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Pondicherry.
Pondicherry in February77March30° · Sea 29° · 8 h
In March, Pondicherry is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 20 mm in total. On about 20 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 Pondicherry.
Pondicherry in March66April32° · Sea 30° · 8 h
In April, Pondicherry is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 27 °C. The sea averages 29.7 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 31 mm in total. On about 28 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Pondicherry.
Pondicherry in April51May33° · Sea 30° · 8 h
In May, Pondicherry is very hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 28 °C. The sea averages 29.6 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 51 mm. On about 30 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 Pondicherry.
Pondicherry in May38June33° · Sea 29° · 6 h
In June, Pondicherry is very hot: daytime highs average 33 °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 10 rainy days and 52 mm in total. On about 29 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 Pondicherry.
Pondicherry in June31July33° · Sea 29° · 5 h
In July, Pondicherry is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 27 °C. The sea averages 29.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 64 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, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Pondicherry.
Pondicherry in July32August32° · Sea 29° · 5 h
In August, Pondicherry is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 27 °C. The sea averages 28.8 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 14 days, totalling 95 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 Pondicherry.
Pondicherry in August36September32° · Sea 29° · 6 h
In September, Pondicherry is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 27 °C. The sea averages 28.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 15 days, totalling 99 mm. On about 26 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 Pondicherry.
Pondicherry in September39October30° · Sea 29° · 5 h
In October, Pondicherry is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 29.3 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 20 days, totalling 221 mm. On about 16 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 Pondicherry.
Pondicherry in October49November28° · Sea 29° · 5 h
In November, Pondicherry is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 28.5 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 18 days, totalling 277 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is a so-so month for a holiday in Pondicherry.
Pondicherry in November72December27° · Sea 27° · 5 h
In December, Pondicherry is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 27.2 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 146 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in Pondicherry.
Pondicherry in DecemberPondicherry compared
Put Pondicherry side by side with another destination.
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Pondicherry vs. Auroville
In October the holiday weather in Pondicherry and Auroville is about equally good (score 39 vs. 38). During the day it is about as warm in Auroville as in Pondicherry. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Pondicherry | Auroville |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 39 | 38 |
| Daytime high | 30° | 30° |
| Sea | 29° | 29° |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 20 | 20 |
| Best time | Jan – Mar | Jan – Apr |
Through the year
India in October: the best places
In October, Pondicherry ranks 23 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Kanniyakumari29°28°74
- 2Calangute30°29°71
- 3Rameswaram28°29°70
- 4Murdeshwar30°29°68
- 5Gokarna30°29°68
- 6Auroville30°29°67
- 7Mahabalipuram30°29°67
- 8Mahé28°29°66
- 23PondicherryThis page30°29°39
Planning a trip to Pondicherry
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Pondicherry 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.
Pondicherry has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 81) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 32).
- 69
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 31 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 8.3 h of sun a day
- 4 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming
Keep in mind: Storm season
- 48
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 33 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 7.7 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming
Keep in mind: Peak heat, Storm season
- 32
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Poor
- 32 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 5.0 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 39
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 30 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 5.1 h of sun a day
- 20 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 81
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
ExcellentBest holidays
- 27 °C by day
- Sea 27 °C
- 6.1 h of sun a day
- 8 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 30 min
- Distance
- 8,300 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
Pondicherry 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 Pondicherry
When is the best time to visit Pondicherry?
The best time to visit Pondicherry is from January to March. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Pondicherry?
The sea temperature in Pondicherry ranges from 26.8 °C in January to 29.7 °C in April. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Pondicherry in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 29.3 °C – almost as warm as a bath.
What is the warmest month in Pondicherry?
May is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C and nights around 28 °C. December is the coolest month at 27 °C.
When does it rain most in Pondicherry?
Rain is most frequent from July to November; the wettest month is November with 277 mm. The driest month is February with 10 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Pondicherry get?
Pondicherry gets around 2,300 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is April with 8.3 hours a day; in November there are 4.5 hours a day.
What time zone is Pondicherry in?
Pondicherry uses the time zone Asia/Kolkata, at UTC+5:30 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Pondicherry?
A nonstop flight from London to Pondicherry takes about 10 h 30 min, for a straight-line distance of about 8,300 km.
When is cyclone season in Pondicherry?
Pondicherry 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 Pondicherry?
Pondicherry has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 81) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 32). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 69, May half-term 48, Summer holidays 32, October half-term 39, Christmas holidays 81.
Near Pondicherry
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Pondicherry
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Pondicherry's – good alternatives.