States » SouthPosted at: Oct 8 2026 3:58PM


Chennai feels unusually hot in October due to relatively high humidity

Chennai, Oct 8 (UNI) The peak summer season, called as dog days, might have ended by May. But the people of this teeming megapolis are experiencing unsually hotter weather conditions with the temperatures shooting up by a couple of notches indicating an extended summer.
The conditions especially between 12.00 noon and 3.00 pm were unbearable as sun has been blazing down mercilessly and this trend was witnessed in spells in August and September, but the heat factor was relatively high in October.
The prevailing intense heat wave conditions in Chennai in October may appear unusual for a month associated with the onset of Northast (NE) monsoon, but the city’s weather at this time of the year is influenced by the transition between the Southwest and NE monsoons, along with humidity, sunshine and the growing urban heat island effect.
El Niño conditions—projected to persist through early 2027—can contribute to intense heatwaves, record-breaking September temperatures (with Chennai observatories like Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam reaching around 38 deg C–38.5 deg C), and altered monsoon patterns across Tamil Nadu. Local surface temperatures in Chennai can soar drastically higher than air temperatures (with paved or sandy surfaces like Marina Beach feeling like 64 deg C on a 38 deg C day) due to heavy built-up area and low vegetation.
According to IMD, Chennai is expected to receive normal rainfall during the upcoming October–December Northeast Monsoon, though central and northern Tamil Nadu may see below-normal rain, alongside state advisory warnings of mixed extreme weather, potential flooding, and subsequent heat risks
October is a crucial transition period when the Southwest monsoon withdraws and conditions gradually become favourable for the onset of NE monsoon. The IMD has this year has indicated that the NE monsoon over south peninsular India is likely to set in around October 15-21, leaving Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu vulnerable to spells of hot and humid weather before sustained monsoon activity begins.
During such transitional periods, the absence of widespread cloud cover and rainfall allows stronger sunlight to heat the land surface. A previous assessment by weather experts noted that largely cloudless skies and dry winds can push Chennai’s dayt temperatures above normal. A weather blogger has attributed unusually warm October to “cloudless” skies and sunlight penetrating the atmosphere, aided by dry winds.
He also explained that the absence of expected rainfall and thunderstorm activity could result in maximum temperatures exceeding the normal level for October. “Usually this period would see significant thunderstorm activity,” he said, noting that days of dry weather could keep the mercury level higher.
Humidity adds another dimension to the heat. Even when the recorded temperature does not appear exceptionally high, relatively high humidity reduces the body’s ability to cool through sweating, making conditions feel considerably hotter. A study of heat stress in India’s four major metropolitan cities found that Chennai faces a particularly high risk of extreme heat stress because of the combination of temperature and high related humidity.
The city’s rapid urbanisation is also making the heat more persistent. A 2026 study published in Scientific Reports found that Chennai’s built-up area increased from 36% in 2014 to 67% in 2024, while vegetation cover declined from 25% to 10%. The study found a strong positive correlation between built-up areas and surface urban heat island intensity, while vegetation had a cooling effect.
Another recent study on Chennai’s urban heat island found that dense built-up neighbourhoods retain heat, particularly at night, while green spaces and water bodies such as Guindy National Park, the Adyar River and the Bay of Bengal provide cooling effects. It also identified upmarket areas including Anna Nagar, Koyambedu and the industrial-cum-residential belt of Ambattur as persistent thermal hotspots.
Researchers say the combination of seasonal weather patterns and long-term urban changes is important in understanding why Chennai can remain uncomfortable even outside the traditional summer months.
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