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Best time to visit Chennai
Month-by-month weather, crowds, prices, and festival calendar — so you know exactly when to book.
Best time to visit Chennai, India
Month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, prices, and seasonal highlights.
| Month | Score | Weather | Crowds | Prices | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20-28°C, pleasant and sunny. | moderate | moderate |
| |
| February | 22-30°C, sunny and dry. | moderate | moderate |
| |
| March | 25-33°C, warm and sunny. | moderate | moderate |
⚠ Temperatures begin to rise significantly. | |
| April | 28-36°C, hot and humid. | moderate | moderate |
⚠ High temperatures and humidity can be challenging. | |
| May | 30-38°C, very hot and humid. | low | low |
⚠ Extreme heat, consider indoor activities. | |
| June | 27-34°C, heavy monsoon rains. | low | low |
⚠ Southwest monsoon brings heavy rainfall and humidity. | |
| July | 26-33°C, continuous monsoon showers. | low | low |
⚠ Heavy rainfall can disrupt travel and outdoor plans. | |
| August | 26-32°C, intermittent monsoon rains. | low | low |
⚠ Lingering monsoon activity, though less intense than July. | |
| September | 25-32°C, occasional rain, increasing humidity. | moderate | moderate |
⚠ Humidity remains high, occasional heavy showers possible. | |
| October | 24-31°C, post-monsoon showers and humidity. | moderate | moderate |
⚠ Northeast monsoon can bring rain, especially later in the month. | |
| November | 22-30°C, pleasant and mostly sunny. | moderate | moderate |
| |
| December | 20-28°C, cool, dry, and sunny. | high | high |
⚠ Peak tourist season due to ideal weather and holidays. |
Annual events worth timing your trip around
A four-day harvest festival celebrated with great fervor, featuring traditional rituals and feasts.
Celebrates the traditional Tamil New Year with family gatherings, special meals, and temple visits.
A Sufi festival held at the shrine of Hazrat Syed Shahul Hameed in Nagore, near Chennai.
A nine-night festival dedicated to the worship of the divine feminine, with music, dance, and prayers.
The festival of lights, celebrated with fireworks, sweets, and new clothes.
Celebrated with church services, carols, and festive gatherings across the city.
Insider timing tips
- •The monsoon season (June-October) brings heavy rainfall, making outdoor activities difficult and potentially disrupting travel plans.
- •December and January offer the most pleasant weather but also see the highest prices and crowds due to holidays.
- •The shoulder months of November and February provide a good balance of decent weather and fewer tourists.
- •May and early June can be extremely hot and humid, often a time when locals prefer to stay indoors.
- •While the northeast monsoon in October can bring rain, it often subsides by November, making it a transition month.
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