New Orleans Weather by Month
| Month | High / Low °F (°C) | Rainy days | Rain (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 62.5 (16.9) / 46.1 (7.8) | 9.5 | 5.18 |
| February | 66.4 (19.1) / 49.7 (9.8) | 9 | 4.13 |
| March | 72.3 (22.4) / 55.3 (12.9) | 8.1 | 4.36 |
| April | 78.5 (25.8) / 61.7 (16.5) | 7.3 | 5.22 |
| May | 85.3 (29.6) / 69 (20.6) | 7.8 | 5.64 |
| June | 90 (32.2) / 74.7 (23.7) | 12.7 | 7.62 |
| July | 91.4 (33.0) / 76.5 (24.7) | 13.9 | 6.79 |
| August | 91.3 (32.9) / 76.6 (24.8) | 13.6 | 6.91 |
| September | 88.1 (31.2) / 73.5 (23.1) | 9.8 | 5.11 |
| October | 80.6 (27.0) / 64.3 (17.9) | 7.1 | 3.70 |
| November | 71.2 (21.8) / 53.7 (12.1) | 7.1 | 3.87 |
| December | 64.8 (18.2) / 48.4 (9.1) | 9.2 | 4.82 |
A month-by-month planning table for New Orleans built on the NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals recorded at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport - the official 30-year averages, not a forecast. Pick any month for the typical high and low in Fahrenheit and Celsius, how many days usually see rain, and how much rain falls.
New Orleans is one of the wettest big cities in America - 63.35 inches a year, more than Seattle - but it rarely rains all day: rain arrives in fast Gulf thunderstorms, 115 days a year. The calendar locals plan around: February through April bring the famous festivals in 66-85 F comfort, summer (June through September) is the 90/75 F wet-sweat season, and October through November turn dry and warm again.
How to use
- Pick your month from the dropdown.
- Read the typical high/low in F and C, rainy days and monthly rainfall, plus the packing line.
- Cross-check the full 12-month table below when your dates are flexible.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit New Orleans?
February through April. Highs run 66.4-85.3 F with 8-9 rain days a month - festival weather (Mardi Gras, then Jazz Fest in late April) before the summer humidity settles in. October through November is the quiet runner-up: 80.6/64.3 F in October with the year's lightest rain.
Does it snow in New Orleans?
Barely ever, which is why it makes the news when it does. Measurable snow falls a couple of times a decade; the January 2025 Gulf Coast storm dropped 8-10 inches on the city - the deepest in decades - and the December 1989 storm left 1-2 inches. A normal winter never sees any.
Why is New Orleans so rainy?
It sits in the path of Gulf of Mexico moisture: summer runs on near-daily afternoon thunderstorms (June through August average 6.8-7.6 inches a month), spring and winter see steady frontal rain, and tropical systems add late-summer bursts. The result - 63.35 inches a year over 115 rain days - is more annual rain than Seattle gets.
When is hurricane season in New Orleans?
June 1 through November 30, with the statistical peak in August and September - the anniversary months of both Katrina (August 2005) and Ida (August 2021). If you travel in that window, keep an eye on forecasts; September still averages 88.1/73.5 F.
How humid is New Orleans?
Very - the long-term normals put relative humidity around 73-79 percent year-round, and summer afternoons feel like wearing a towel. That is exactly why this table tracks rainfall in inches instead: humidity readings in the official normals come from an older 1961-1990 baseline, so we keep the table on the single 1991-2020 source.
What should I pack for New Orleans in summer?
Fast-drying clothes, a rain layer and comfortable shoes you do not mind soaking: July averages 91.4/76.5 F with 13.9 rain days. Mornings are the driest stretch; storms build through the afternoon. Indoors, air conditioning runs aggressive - a light layer earns its place in the bag.