Climate of Chennai

Climate of Chennai and Weather

Since Chennai city is located on the coast and the thermal equator zone, one does not see extreme seasonal variations in temperature.

During most part of the year, the city enjoys a hot and humid temperature. May is the hottest part of the year which can report a maximum temperature between 38 and 42 °C (100–107 °F), while the coolest month of the year is January with the temperature falling to a minimum of around 18–20 °C (64–68 °F). So far, the lowest temperature noted in the city is 15.8 °C (60.44 °F) while the highest was not more than 45 °C (113 °F).

The average annual rainfall of Chennai is around 1,300 mm (51 inches), while the city gets a major part of its rains from mid-September to mid-December. Cyclones in the Bay of Bengal hitting the city are a common occurrence. The peak rainy season of the city occurs from mid-September to mid-December, while the city benefits from the north-east monsoon winds.