New Orleans features a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid, and rainy summers and short, mild winters. The city experiences dramatic seasonal contrasts, abundant sunshine, and frequent rain, especially in summer. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant times, offering comfortable temperatures, lower humidity, and a vibrant festival atmosphere.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
New Orleans’ climate is shaped by its Gulf Coast location, resulting in four distinct seasons and pronounced humidity. Summers (June–September) are long, hot, and humid, with average highs of 32–34°C and lows around 23–25°C. Humidity often exceeds 80%, making the heat feel more intense. Afternoon thunderstorms are frequent, especially in July and August, which are the wettest months, each seeing up to 170 mm of rain and 10–12 rainy days. Summer is also hurricane season, with the highest risk from August to October. Despite the rain, sunshine is abundant, and nights remain warm.
Winters (December–February) are short and mild, with average highs of 17–19°C and lows near 7–9°C. Frost is rare, and snow is extremely uncommon, occurring only a handful of times each generation. Winter days are often sunny, but humidity and wind can make the air feel chillier. Spring (March–May) and autumn (October–November) are the most comfortable seasons, with highs from 22–29°C, lower humidity, and fewer rainy days. These periods are ideal for festivals and outdoor activities, with blooming flowers in spring and pleasant breezes in autumn. Annual precipitation averages 1,590 mm, with October being the driest month. Winds are generally moderate (10–21 km/h), but can be brisk during storms.
| Average climate data for New Orleans, United States | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 16 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 26 | 21 | 17 | 32 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 19 | 14 | 11 | 9 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 12 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 19 | 22 | 40 | 37 | 12 | 24 | 16 | 20 | 238 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 112 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 74 | 77 | 75 | 73 | 73 | 71 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 71 | 71 | 77 | 73 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 37 | 41 | 36 | 32 | 26 | 25 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 25 | 31 | 44 | 31 |
| Average UV index | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 6 |
The best time to visit New Orleans is from late March to April and October to November, when temperatures are comfortable (22–29°C), humidity is lower, and rainfall is minimal. These months offer the most pleasant weather for festivals, sightseeing, and outdoor dining, with fewer storms and vibrant city life.
The least favourable time to visit is from June to September, when heat, humidity, and frequent thunderstorms can disrupt outdoor plans. Hurricane risk is highest from August to October, and the combination of high temperatures and humidity can make the weather feel oppressive, especially during midday.
New Orleans has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid, rainy summers and short, mild winters. Spring and autumn are warm and comfortable, while summer brings frequent thunderstorms and high humidity.
Summer temperatures in New Orleans typically reach 32–34°C, with humidity often above 80%. Afternoon thunderstorms are frequent, and nights remain warm and muggy.
Snow is extremely rare in New Orleans, occurring only a few times each generation. Winter temperatures usually range from 7–19°C, though humidity and wind can make it feel colder.
Hurricane season runs from June to November, with the highest risk from August to October. While direct hits are rare, tropical storms can bring heavy rain, strong winds, and flooding.
Pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection for summer. In winter, bring layers and a jacket for cool evenings. A rain jacket or umbrella is useful year-round, especially during summer and hurricane season.
New Orleans enjoys abundant sunshine, with 7–10 hours per day depending on the season. October is the sunniest month, while summer months are often partly cloudy due to frequent storms.
New Orleans is humid year-round, especially from June to September. Winds are generally moderate, but can be brisk during thunderstorms or hurricanes.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (31.8 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (15.8 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 24.8 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (26.5 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (9.1 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 18.6 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is July (40.1 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is April (10.9 mm). Over the whole year there are 238 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is August (17.2 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is November (4.8 days). Over the whole year there are 112.1 days of rain on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (0.2 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are April, May, June, August, September and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 0.6 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (77.5 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is June (70.8 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 73.2 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is February (15.7 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is July (10.5 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 13.6 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is December (43.6 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is October (24.6 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 31.4 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 14 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 10 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is June (Average sunshine: 10.9 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is February (Average sunshine: 4.9 h). Over the whole year there are 7.9 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are May, June, July, August and September (UV index: 7). The month with the lowest average UV index is December (UV index: 3). Over the whole year the average UV index is 5.7.
