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Chennai in May: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Take a look at past year’s weather for Chennai in May and see if it is worth visiting.
Check flight prices to Chennai on Avionero:
May

Weather in Chennai in May 2025

OK Weather
Hot
☁️
Cloudy
May could be a good time to visit Chennai, as the weather is generally fine. The average high temperature is around +33°C, and there are typically 8 sunny days in May. However, expect about 10 rainy days, and total monthly rainfall of approximately 38 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flights in one click on Avionero.

Average weather

☀️
+33°C
Avg. max. temperature
+25°C
Min.
+42°C
Max.
38 mm
Total precipitation
74%
Avg. humidity
3 m/s
Avg. wind
8 ☀️
Sunny Days
11 ⛅️
Cloudy
10 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Chennai has OK weather in May.

Average temperature in Chennai in May

Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Chennai for May based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The temperature in May is +32°C on average, with a range between a maximum of +37°C during the day and a minimum of +26°C at night.

The average maximum temperature goes up 27% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +29°C to +32°C.

Is Chennai warm or cold in May?

Chennai is typically hot in May.

Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +32°C to +33°C. The minimum temperature also goes up from +28°C to +29°C.

Make sure that you pack your summer linen and swimming costumes; it’s probably going to be hot.

May is one of the warmest months in Chennai, here is the comparison with other months:

Climate in Chennai in May

Chennai weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
AprilMayJune
Avg. temperature
+32°C+33°C+33°C
Min. temperature
+24°C+25°C+25°C
Max. temperature
+39°C+42°C+42°C
Rainfall
11 mm38 mm55 mm
Wind
3 m/s3 m/s3 m/s
Humidity
78%74%69%
Air pressure
1007 HPa1004 HPa1003 HPa
Sunny days
1281
Cloudy days
101111
Rainy days
71015
Snowy days
000

May typically has worse weather conditions compared to April. It’s getting warmer as May arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +32°C to +33°C during the day. Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 11 mm to 38 mm. It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 78% to 74%. The average wind speed doesn’t change much during May, staying around 3 m/s. The days becoming less sunny, going from 12 sunny days in April to 8 in May.

June brings much the same weather, it remains ok.

Wind

Wind speed in Chennai in May based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The average wind speed is 3 m/s getting up to 5 m/s which is a light breeze; barely moving the tree leaves.

The average wind speed in Chennai is gradually increasing during May, going from 3 m/s to 3 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during May in Chennai based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in May is about 60 mm, with a 19% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 27 mm, which is moderate rain. On average, there are about 6 rainy days during May, so prepare to bring an umbrella.
Here’s how May is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Chennai wettest month is November, where a typical day has a 63% chance of precipitation and 217 mm of rainfall per day. March, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 13% chance of precipitation and 9 mm of rainfall per day.

How was the weather last May in Chennai?

This is the weather in Chennai in May 2023:
1 May
🌫️
+29°C
2 May
🌫️
+29°C
3 May
🌫️
+29°C
4 May
🌧️
+30°C
5 May
🌧️
+30°C
6 May
🌫️
+30°C
7 May
🌫️
+30°C
8 May
🌫️
+31°C
9 May
☁️
+32°C
10 May
☁️
+32°C
11 May
🌫️
+32°C
12 May
🌫️
+33°C
13 May
☁️
+34°C
14 May
☁️
+37°C
15 May
☁️
+36°C
16 May
☁️
+37°C
17 May
🌫️
+33°C
18 May
☀️
+33°C
19 May
🌫️
+33°C
20 May
☀️
+32°C
21 May
☀️
+32°C
22 May
🌫️
+31°C
23 May
☀️
+32°C
24 May
☀️
+32°C
25 May
🌫️
+33°C
26 May
☁️
+34°C
27 May
☁️
+34°C
28 May
☁️
+34°C
29 May
🌫️
+32°C
30 May
🌫️
+33°C
31 May
🌫️
+32°C
In May 2023 Chennai had 5 sunny days, 9 cloudy days, and 2 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +32°C, with an absolute maximum of +37°C and a minimum of +29°C. The average humidity was 80%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 55%. The average wind speed was 3 m/s, with a maximum of 7 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?

Climate Change over Years

This is how Chennai climate have been changing during last 43 years period.

The climate in Chennai in May has not changed much over the last 43 years.

The average temperature was the lowest in 1989 (+29°C) and the highest in 2019 (+33°C). The driest year was 1982 with only 445 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 1996 with 1545 mm.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Chennai in May:

Is May a good time to visit Chennai?

It’s always a good time to visit Chennai, but the weather is changeable in May, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.

Can you sunbathe in Chennai in May?

Absolutely, May is hot in Chennai. Plan on beach and pool time, and ensure that you pack light and breathable options to stay comfortable.

Is Chennai rainy in May?

Chennai is usually dry in May. Plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring.

Is it sunny in Chennai in May?

Usually, it’s not very sunny in Chennai in May, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.

Other cities in India

Check out the weather for other cities in India.

Monthly weather in Chennai

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Chennai, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2022.

For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.