Tamil Nadu Weather: TN Shivers; Chennai Feels The Chill, Hosur Near Ooty-Level Cold

Tamil Nadu has been experiencing an unusually chilly spell during the Pongal holiday period, with minimum temperatures dropping sharply across hill stations, interior districts and even coastal regions. The widespread dip in night-time temperatures has made several parts of the state feel more like traditional hill stations, with Hosur emerging as a surprise contender, drawing comparisons to Ooty.

Among hill stations in South India, Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh recorded the lowest temperature at a bone-chilling 4.9°C on January 18, making it the coldest destination this Pongal, weather blogger R Pradeep John noted. Tamil Nadu's popular hill retreats were not far behind, with Ooty and Kodaikanal both registering 7°C, while Coonoor and Valparai touched 8°C. Jawadhu Hills also experienced a cold night at 11.4°C. Neighbouring states saw similar conditions, with Hassan and Chikkamagalur in Karnataka and Wayanad in Kerala reporting near-freezing night temperatures.

What has stood out this season is the intensity of cold in interior Tamil Nadu. Hosur in Krishnagiri district recorded a remarkable low of 9.1°C, colder than several hill stations. Denkanikottai followed closely at 10.1°C. Dharmapuri, Salem, Vellore and Tiruvallur districts all witnessed minimum temperatures between 14°C and 16°C. Neyveli dropped to 15.3°C, while Tiruttani, Namakkal, Karur and parts of Trichy also recorded notably cool nights. These readings underline how deeply the cold wave has penetrated the plains.

Even coastal Tamil Nadu, typically shielded from extreme winter chill, has not been spared. Chennai Airport logged a minimum of 19°C, one of the coldest nights of the year so far, and temperatures are expected to fall further over the next two days. Suburbs such as Avadi (17.4°C), Tiruvallur (17.2°C), Chembarambakkam (17.7°C) and Poonamallee (17.9°C) all dipped below 18°C, breaking local records. Cuddalore, Puducherry and Nagapattinam also recorded sub-20°C temperatures, while Thoothukudi touched 20.3°C.

Across the southern peninsula, other major cities echoed this trend. Bengaluru Airport recorded 14°C, Hyderabad 14.4°C, and Bengaluru city 14.9°C, reinforcing the regional nature of the cold spell.

The weather blogger attributes the cooler nights to strong radiational cooling. With the Northeast Monsoon withdrawing, cloudless skies have allowed heat absorbed during the day to escape rapidly at night. A prevailing high-pressure system has reduced humidity and cloud formation, while weak winds have prevented warmer air from mixing downwards. The resulting dry, calm and clear conditions have created ideal circumstances for sharp night-time cooling.

Together, these factors have delivered crisp, winter-like nights across Tamil Nadu and much of Peninsular India, offering residents a rare taste of prolonged seasonal chill.