Is It Monsoon in Puducherry, India? Rainfall and Weather by Month

Puducherry, India JANUARY
25Β°
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Peak season
21Β° to 30Β°
Cool & Dry
The least hot month of the year, and the most comfortable stretch of the dry season.
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Pongal, mid-January
Tamil Nadu's major harvest festival is widely celebrated in and around Puducherry too, a four-day celebration marked by kolam patterns, the festival's namesake sweet rice dish, and family gatherings.
β˜€οΈ SunscreenπŸ§₯ Light layers for evenings
26Β°
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Peak season
22Β° to 31Β°
Warm & Dry
Still comfortably mild, with the dry season holding steady.
β˜€οΈ SunscreenπŸ§₯ Light layers for evenings
28Β°
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Shoulder season
23Β° to 33Β°
Heat Builds
Still technically the dry season, but the heat climbs fast from here.
β˜€οΈ SunscreenπŸ₯΅ Heat building
30Β°
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Shoulder season
26Β° to 34Β°
Very Hot
Daytime highs regularly push past 34Β°C, with the hottest stretch of the year just ahead.
πŸ₯΅ Heat protectionπŸ’§ Stay hydrated
32Β°
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Shoulder season
27Β° to 37Β°
Scorching
Among the hottest months of the year, with temperatures that have reached 43Β°C.
πŸ₯΅ Extreme heatπŸ’§ Stay hydrated
32Β°
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Peak season
27Β° to 37Β°
Shielded from the Monsoon
Just as hot as May, but the Western Ghats keep rainfall relatively light even as the southwest monsoon begins elsewhere.
πŸ₯΅ Heat protectionβ˜” Light rain jacket
31Β°
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Shoulder season
26Β° to 36Β°
Rain Picks Up
Still very hot, with rain becoming more frequent as the monsoon strengthens.
β˜” Umbrella handyπŸ’§ Stay hydrated
30Β°
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Shoulder season
26Β° to 35Β°
Rainy Season Begins
Rain grows more frequent as winds increasingly blow in from the east.
β˜” Umbrella handyπŸ’§ Stay hydrated
30Β°
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Shoulder season
25Β° to 34Β°
Building Toward Monsoon
Hot and increasingly wet, as the year's wettest stretch approaches.
β˜” Umbrella handyπŸ₯΅ Still hot
29Β°
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Off-peak season
24Β° to 33Β°
Northeast Monsoon Arrives
Rain becomes a near-daily event as the true wet season sets in.
β˜” Umbrella essential⚠️ Flash-flood aware
27Β°
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Off-peak season
23Β° to 31Β°
Wettest Month
The wettest month of the year, driven by the retreating northeast monsoon.
β˜” Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
26Β°
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Off-peak season
22Β° to 29Β°
Still Unsettled
Cooler, but still within the rainy season, with unsettled weather lingering before the dry months return.
β˜” Umbrella handyπŸ§₯ Light layers for evenings
Drag through the year Jan
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Jan
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Feb
Mar
Apr
May
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Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
This month
Rainfall
18 mm
1 rainy day this month
Sunshine
7.5 hrs/day
58% of daylight hours
Humidity
74%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
18 mm
1 rainy day this month
Sunshine
8.5 hrs/day
65% of daylight hours
Humidity
72%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
18 mm
1 rainy day this month
Sunshine
9.5 hrs/day
73% of daylight hours
Humidity
70%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
20 mm
1 rainy day this month
Sunshine
10 hrs/day
77% of daylight hours
Humidity
71%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
66 mm
2 rainy days this month
Sunshine
9.5 hrs/day
73% of daylight hours
Humidity
65%
Comfortably humid
Wind
13 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
58 mm
3 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8 hrs/day
62% of daylight hours
Humidity
61%
Comfortably humid
Wind
13 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
74 mm
5 rainy days this month
Sunshine
4.5 hrs/day
35% of daylight hours
Humidity
65%
Comfortably humid
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
135 mm
7 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6 hrs/day
46% of daylight hours
Humidity
69%
Comfortably humid
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
135 mm
7 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
73%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
259 mm
11 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8.5 hrs/day
65% of daylight hours
Humidity
79%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
348 mm
11 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8.5 hrs/day
65% of daylight hours
Humidity
81%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
249 mm
6 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
78%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
β˜…β˜…β˜… peak season, β˜…β˜…β˜† decent shoulder months, β˜…β˜†β˜† true off-peak, based on rain frequency, heat, and haze.
Seasons at a glance
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Peak season: Jan, Feb, Jun
Puducherry's most comfortable stretch overall. January and February are the least hot months of the dry season, while June, though within the rainy half of the year, is shielded by the Western Ghats and stays relatively dry.
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Shoulder season: Mar, Apr, May, Jul, Aug, Sep
This tier spans real extremes. March through May are still technically dry season, but the heat climbs fast, peaking just before the monsoon. July sees rain pick up as the southwest monsoon strengthens, while August and September grow increasingly wet as the wind shifts to blow more from the east.
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Off-peak season: Oct, Nov, Dec
The wettest stretch of the year, driven by the northeast monsoon. November alone averages nearly 350mm of rain, and the retreating monsoon keeps December's weather unsettled even as temperatures cool.
Good to know
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A former French colony
Puducherry was under French rule until 1954, and the French Quarter, or White Town, still has colonial villas, French street signs, and a French-speaking community.
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Home to Auroville and Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Auroville, an experimental international township founded in 1968, and the nearby ashram both draw visitors interested in spirituality and alternative living.
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No major airport of its own
Puducherry's small airport has limited service; most visitors arrive by road or rail via Chennai, about three hours away.
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Cyclone risk concentrated in autumn
Like nearby Chennai, the coast is normally only affected by cyclones from mid-October to December, and more rarely in May.
Top attractions
1
White Town (French Quarter)
Pastel-colored colonial villas, wrought-iron balconies, and cobblestone streets along the seafront, with the promenade, the Old Lighthouse, and the French War Memorial nearby.
2
Auroville
An experimental international township founded in 1968, centered on the golden Matrimandir meditation dome, with a visitor centre explaining the community's philosophy.
3
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
A spiritual community founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, home to their Samadhi and a quiet, contemplative counterpoint to the busier French Quarter streets.
Frequently asked questions
When is monsoon season in Puducherry?
Puducherry's monsoon season runs roughly from October through December, with November historically the wettest, averaging around 348mm of rain across 11 days.
What is the best time of year to visit Puducherry?
January and February are historically Puducherry's least hot months, and June, despite falling within the wider monsoon period, stays relatively dry thanks to the shelter of the Western Ghats.
What is the least favorable time to visit Puducherry?
November, the wettest month of the year, historically brings the heaviest rain, and December stays unsettled as the retreating monsoon lingers.
Which month has the most rain in Puducherry?
November is historically the wettest month, averaging around 348mm of rain across 11 days.
Which month is the driest in Puducherry?
January, February, and March are historically tied as the driest months, each averaging around 18mm of rain.
How hot does Puducherry get?
May and June are historically tied as the hottest months of the year.
What should I pack for Puducherry during the rainy season?
An umbrella and rain gear are worth having from around October through December, when the northeast monsoon brings the bulk of the year's rain.
Does cyclone risk affect Puducherry?
Like nearby Chennai, the coast is normally only affected by cyclones from mid-October to December, and more rarely in May.
Is Puducherry a former French colony?
Yes. Puducherry was under French rule until 1954, and the French Quarter, or White Town, still has colonial villas, French street signs, and a French-speaking community.
Is there a festival worth planning around in Puducherry?
Pongal, Tamil Nadu's major harvest festival, is widely celebrated in and around Puducherry in mid-January, a four-day celebration marked by kolam patterns and family gatherings.