India GOKochi weather
Best time: Dec–Feb
Kochi is warm in every month: daytime highs stay between 30 and 35 °C and nights between 21 and 25 °C. What changes is the rain. December to March is almost dry, the southwest monsoon arrives around the start of June and drops about 600 mm in June and 570 mm in July, and showers linger into November. Below is what each season is like; the month-by-month table is above.
Jun ~580 mm; NE-monsoon tail Oct–NovMonth by month
🟩 Best time · 🟢 Good time · 🟧 Better avoid. Bar height is the daytime high.
| Month | °C | Rain | Humidity | Season |
| January | 21–34 | 2 mm · 0 d | 66% | Best time · Sea open for swimming |
| February | 22–35 | 14 mm · 1 d | 67% | Best time · Sea open for swimming |
| March | 24–35 | 40 mm · 2 d | 71% | Good time · Sea open for swimming |
| April | 25–34 | 116 mm · 7 d | 75% | Good time · Rough sea, swim with care |
| May | 24–33 | 225 mm · 11 d | 78% | Better avoid · Swimming closed (monsoon) |
| June | 24–31 | 596 mm · 23 d | 85% | Better avoid · Swimming closed (monsoon) |
| July | 23–30 | 571 mm · 24 d | 86% | Better avoid · Swimming closed (monsoon) |
| August | 23–30 | 458 mm · 18 d | 85% | Better avoid · Swimming closed (monsoon) |
| September | 23–31 | 359 mm · 16 d | 83% | Good time · Swimming closed (monsoon) |
| October | 23–32 | 343 mm · 14 d | 82% | Good time · Rough sea, swim with care |
| November | 23–33 | 176 mm · 7 d | 79% | Good time · Sea open for swimming |
| December | 22–33 | 53 mm · 2 d | 71% | Best time · Sea open for swimming |
Long-term averages from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The full Kochi guide in India GO.
Open in India GOWhat each season feels like
December–February, the dry season. Highs of 33–35 °C, nights of 21–22 °C and almost no rain: January averages 2 mm, February 14 mm. Humidity is at its lowest of the year, around two-thirds, which in Kochi still means a warm, sticky afternoon. This is when the sea off Cherai and the other beaches is calm enough to swim.
March–April, the hot build-up. February and March are the hottest months on paper (35 °C by day), and nights climb to 24–25 °C. Showers return in April, about 116 mm over seven days, and the sea starts to roughen. Plan walks in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry for the morning and the last hour before sunset.
May–August, the southwest monsoon. The monsoon usually reaches Kerala at the start of June, the first stretch of India's mainland it touches. June and July are the wettest months, about 600 and 570 mm over 23–24 rainy days, and the air is at 85–86% humidity. From June the days actually cool down to 30–31 °C. The sea is closed for swimming from May to September.
September–November, the long tail. Rain eases but does not stop: around 350 mm in September and October, then the northeast monsoon brings lighter showers into November (176 mm over seven days).
Best time to visit Kochi
December to February is the season: dry, sunny and the sea open for swimming. March and the shoulder months of October and November are good too, with more heat in the first case and more showers in the second. May to August are the months to avoid for a classic sightseeing trip, mostly because of the rain, not the heat. The one exception is Ayurveda: Kerala traditionally treats the June–August monsoon as the strongest season for treatment. More on choosing dates: best time to visit Kochi.
Travelling in the monsoon
Kochi moves by water, and water is what the monsoon disrupts first. Between June and September heavy rain can stop the state ferries and the Water Metro, so keep a land route in reserve for the crossing to Fort Kochi (the metro and a cab via the bridges). Allow extra time to reach the airport, about 40 km from Fort Kochi, and check IMD's Kerala warnings before a backwater trip or a drive to the waterfalls.
Festivals and the weather they fall in
Three dates that shape a Kochi trip, each in a different season.
Onam: 3–15 September 2027
Kerala's harvest festival falls at the end of the monsoon, in August or September, when showers are still likely: August averages 18 rainy days, September 16. Flights and trains into Kerala fill up first. More about Onam
Christmas: 25 December 2026
Fort Kochi's churches celebrate in the dry season, with warm nights around 22 °C. More about Christmas
Cochin Carnival: 31 December 2026 – 1 January 2027 (expected)
Fort Kochi's New Year carnival comes in the dry season. Rooms in the old quarter book out early. Festivals in Kochi
What to pack
Kochi never gets cold, so packing is about heat, humidity and rain.
- Light, loose cotton or linen — Highs stay at 30–35 °C all year and humidity rarely drops below two-thirds.
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees — Needed for temples and churches; the same fabric choice works in the heat.
- An umbrella or rain jacket — From April to November; essential from June to October.
- Sandals that can get wet — For flooded lanes in the monsoon and wet ferry decks.
- Sun protection and a water bottle — Hat and sunscreen for the February–April afternoons.
Today's weather and alerts
The figures on this page are long-term averages from the airport weather station, not a forecast. For today's weather, the next few days and heavy-rain warnings for Ernakulam district, check the India Meteorological Department's Kerala centre: mausam.imd.gov.in/thiruvananthapuram.
FAQ
What is the best month to visit Kochi?
January: on average 2 mm of rain, highs of 34 °C and the sea open for swimming. December and February are almost as good.
Which is the hottest month in Kochi?
February and March, with average highs of 35 °C. April is a degree cooler and May two, and both are more humid.
Which month is the coolest in Kochi?
July and August by day (30 °C), because of the monsoon cloud. The coolest nights, about 21 °C, come in January.
When is the rainy season in Kochi?
From about early June, when the monsoon reaches Kerala, to November. June brings about 600 mm and July about 570 mm; December to March is nearly dry.
Is Kochi humid?
Yes, all year. Average humidity runs from about 66% in January to 86% in July, so even the dry season feels warm and sticky.
Can you swim in the sea at Kochi in the monsoon?
No. The sea is closed for swimming from May to September and rough in April and October; November to March is the swimming season.
Sources (2)
Facts checked: 15 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.