If you plan to visit New Orleans in January, the weather is typically alright, with an average high temperature of +63°F during the day and approximately 7 sunny days. Expect some rainy, though, as there are typically 14 rainy days in the month and around 246 mm of precipitation. The weather is changeable so you may have to pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
January is usually the coldest month of the year in New Orleans;
Average weather
☀️
+63°F
Avg. max. temperature
+14°F
Min.
+81°F
Max.
246 mm
Total precipitation
77%
Avg. humidity
3 m/s
Avg. wind
7 ☀️
Sunny Days
10 ⛅️
Cloudy
14 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: New Orleans has OK weather in January.
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Average temperature in New Orleans in January
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in New Orleans for January based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Going from a maximum of +79°F during the day to a minimum of +37°F during the night, the temperature in January averages around +70°F.
The average maximum temperature goes up 13% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +72°F to +77°F.
Is New Orleans warm or cold in January?
New Orleans is typically mild in January.
Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +64°F to +63°F. The minimum temperature also goes down from +52°F to +48°F.
Pack a light jacket as it will be warm in the day and cool in the evenings.
January is the coldest month in New Orleans, here is the comparison with other months:
Water temperature in New Orleans in January
Water in New Orleans in January is Cold. It varies from +51°F to +60°F, with an average of +56°F.This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +63°F.
The water temperature in January is one of the coldest of the entire year:
The warmest water temperatures in New Orleans are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +86°F. The coldest water temperatures are in January, with an average of +56°F.
Can you swim in New Orleans in January?
We would not recommend swimming in New Orleans in January, the water is very cold (+56°F on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.
Climate in New Orleans in January
New Orleans weather looks like this, on average, in January and the surrounding months.
December
January
February
Avg. temperature
+64°F
+63°F
+64°F
Min. temperature
+14°F
+14°F
+23°F
Max. temperature
+82°F
+81°F
+84°F
Rainfall
107 mm
246 mm
325 mm
Wind
3 m/s
3 m/s
3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+60°F
+56°F
+57°F
Humidity
78%
77%
77%
Air pressure
1019 HPa
1020 HPa
1018 HPa
Sunny days
7
7
5
Cloudy days
10
10
9
Rainy days
14
14
13
Snowy days
0
0
0
January weather is still as ok as in December.It’s getting colder in January. From +64°F in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +63°F.Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 107 mm to 246 mm.It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 78% to 77%.The average wind speed doesn’t change much during January, staying around 3 m/s.The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 7 sunny days during the month.
February brings much the same weather, it remains ok.
Wind speed in New Orleans in January based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 3 m/s getting up to 7 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in New Orleans is gradually decreasing during January, going from 2 m/s to 1 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during January in New Orleans based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 61% chance of rain on an average day in January, with total rainfall of approximately 160 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 50 mm, which is considered heavy rain.January is a pretty wet month with over 19 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
New Orleans wettest month is March, where a typical day has a 48% chance of precipitation and 390 mm of rainfall per day. November, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 40% chance of precipitation and 87 mm of rainfall per day.
Snow
Amount of snow in mm during January in New Orleans based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 0% chance of snow on an average day in January, with a total monthly snowfall of approximately 0 mm.
January is one of the snowiest months in New Orleans.
Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of snow, total mm:
How was the weather last January in New Orleans?
This is the weather in New Orleans in January 2023:
1 January
🌫️
+72°F
2 January
🌫️
+77°F
3 January
☁️
+77°F
4 January
🌧️
+74°F
5 January
☀️
+69°F
6 January
☀️
+65°F
7 January
☀️
+75°F
8 January
☀️
+68°F
9 January
☀️
+63°F
10 January
☀️
+71°F
11 January
🌫️
+78°F
12 January
☁️
+75°F
13 January
☀️
+70°F
14 January
☀️
+53°F
15 January
☀️
+63°F
16 January
☁️
+72°F
17 January
☁️
+78°F
18 January
☁️
+78°F
19 January
☀️
+73°F
20 January
☀️
+70°F
21 January
☁️
+60°F
22 January
🌧️
+64°F
23 January
☀️
+55°F
24 January
☀️
+64°F
25 January
🌧️
+69°F
26 January
☀️
+56°F
27 January
☀️
+58°F
28 January
☁️
+66°F
29 January
☁️
+74°F
30 January
☁️
+78°F
31 January
☁️
+77°F
In January 2023 New Orleans had 15 sunny days, 10 cloudy days, and 3 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +70°F, with an absolute maximum of +79°F and a minimum of +54°F. The average humidity was 71%, with a maximum of 98% and a minimum of 27%. The average wind speed was 3 m/s, with a maximum of 10 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in January?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how New Orleans climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in New Orleans in January has not changed that much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1983 (+73°F) and the highest in 2023 (+80°F). The driest year was 2000 with only 955 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2022 with 58691 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in New Orleans in January:
Is January a good time to visit New Orleans?
It’s always a good time to visit New Orleans, but the weather is changeable in January, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.
Can you sunbathe in New Orleans in January?
January has mild temperatures in New Orleans. Not ideal for sunbathing, but still good for daytime outdoor activities, but plan for cool evenings. Pack a light jacket and shorts!
Can you swim in New Orleans in January?
Swimming in New Orleans in January is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is New Orleans rainy in January?
New Orleans is often rainy in January. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in New Orleans in January?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in New Orleans in January, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in New Orleans, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.
