Chennai weather by month & the best time to visit
India · major coastal city · tropical — wet & dry seasons climate
The best time to visit Chennai is February — its sunniest month (Sunshine Score 93/100), with January close behind. Chennai averages about 2,636 hours of sunshine a year. Daytime highs around 30°C / 86°F and roughly 6 mm of rain in February.
When is the best time to visit Chennai?
For sunshine, the best time to visit Chennai is February, then January. The dullest month is May (51/100, 55 mm of rain). The full month-by-month picture is in the table below.
How sunny is Chennai?
Chennai gets a lot of sun: around 2,636 hours a year. February (93/100) is noticeably better than May (51). It ranks #59 of 112 destinations in India for annual sunshine, below the national median of 2,654 hours. Rain has a clear season: the wettest stretch, around October, carries about 56% of the annual 1,253 mm.
Sunshine Score by month
| Month | Score | Day high | Night low | Rain | UV | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 92 | 28° / 82°F | 21° / 70°F | 16 mm | 9 | 27° / 81°F |
| February | 93 | 30° / 86°F | 21° / 70°F | 6 mm | 10 | 29° / 84°F |
| March | 73 | 34° / 93°F | 23° / 73°F | 15 mm | 11 | 30° / 86°F |
| April | 54 | 36° / 97°F | 26° / 79°F | 26 mm | 11 | 31° / 88°F |
| May | 51 | 36° / 97°F | 27° / 81°F | 55 mm | 10 | 31° / 88°F |
| June | 57 | 35° / 95°F | 27° / 81°F | 68 mm | 9 | 31° / 88°F |
| July | 60 | 34° / 93°F | 26° / 79°F | 108 mm | 9 | 29° / 84°F |
| August | 63 | 33° / 91°F | 25° / 77°F | 132 mm | 10 | 30° / 86°F |
| September | 68 | 32° / 90°F | 25° / 77°F | 145 mm | 10 | 30° / 86°F |
| October | 67 | 30° / 86°F | 25° / 77°F | 264 mm | 9 | 31° / 88°F |
| November | 67 | 29° / 84°F | 23° / 73°F | 292 mm | 8 | 29° / 84°F |
| December | 71 | 28° / 82°F | 22° / 72°F | 126 mm | 7 | 27° / 81°F |
Sea temperature in Chennai by month
The sea off Chennai is warmest in April at around 31°C / 88°F, and coolest in January at 27°C / 81°F. The water sits at a comfortable 21°C or warmer roughly all year round. Month-by-month sea-surface temperatures are in the Sea column of the table above.
Nearest destinations
Head-to-head
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Chennai: questions and answers
What kind of destination is Chennai?
Chennai is a major coastal city in India with a tropical — wet & dry seasons climate — the sea reaches 31°C at its warmest and is swimmable (21°C+) year-round.
How many hours of sunshine does Chennai get a year?
Chennai gets about 2,636 hours of sunshine a year, at its best around February.
When is the best time to visit Chennai?
The sunniest time to visit Chennai is February, when the Sunshine Score peaks at 93/100 (with January close behind). Expect daytime highs around 30°C / 86°F.
What is the least sunny month in Chennai?
May is the least sunny month in Chennai, scoring 51/100 with about 55 mm of rain.
What is the sea temperature in Chennai?
The sea in Chennai ranges from about 27°C (January) to 31°C (April). Month-by-month sea temperatures are on this page.
How strong is the sun in Chennai?
The typical midday UV index in Chennai peaks around 11 (extreme) in March, easing to about 7 (high) in December. Month-by-month midday UV values are in the UV column of the table on this page.
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