In general the best time to visit New Orleans is probably August, when the weather is usually great. The hottest months are June, July, August, while the coldest months are January, February, December.
Depending on the activities you want to experience, you may choose different months to visit:
The best time for a sun tanning holiday is June, July, August. Average maximum temperatures are up to +88°F in August and it has 3 sunny days on average.
In general, it’s pleasant to walk and do outdoor activities during February - December.
If you want to avoid wet weather, then your choice is July, August, September with the lowest chance of rain.
Average weather in New Orleans in different months
This is the average weather in New Orleans for each month based on historic data:
October usually has good weather. Average maximum temperature reaches +79°F during October.
In January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, November, December the weather is average. Expect around 192 rainy days, and the precipitation amounts to approximately 390 mm in March.
Climate in New Orleans
Here is the detailed breakdown of the climate in New Orleans for each month:
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Maximum Temperature
+81°F
+84°F
+86°F
+88°F
+97°F
+99°F
+99°F
+102°F
+97°F
+93°F
+84°F
+82°F
Average Maximum Temperature
+63°F
+64°F
+70°F
+77°F
+82°F
+88°F
+88°F
+88°F
+84°F
+79°F
+70°F
+64°F
Minimum Temperature
+14°F
+23°F
+28°F
+39°F
+48°F
+59°F
+70°F
+66°F
+55°F
+39°F
+30°F
+14°F
Avg. water temperature
+60°F
+64°F
+70°F
+76°F
+83°F
+85°F
+88°F
+89°F
+86°F
+81°F
+73°F
+63°F
Humidity, %
77
77
76
76
76
78
80
80
79
77
77
78
Rain, mm
246
325
390
377
312
341
244
198
139
89
87
107
Snow, mm
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Average wind speed, m/s
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
3
Sunny Days
7
5
7
7
7
4
2
3
6
11
10
7
Cloud Days
10
9
9
8
7
3
2
2
3
7
8
10
Rainy Days
14
13
15
14
16
22
26
26
20
13
12
14
Snowy Days
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Average Temperature
Here are the average maximum and minimum temperatures in New Orleans during the whole year:
The hottest month in New Orleans is August with average maximum temperature going up to +88°F. The coldest month is January with the lowest temperatures of +48°F.
Water temperature
Here are the water temperatures in New Orleans during the whole year:
New Orleans achieves its warmest water temperature in August, where the average sea temperature goes up to +86°F. Coldest water temperature is in January with +56°F in average.
When can you swim in New Orleans?
You can swim in New Orleans from April to October:
In July - August the water is very warm (82°F);
In June the water is warm (77°F - 82°F);
In April - May the water is comfortable (70°F - 77°F);
Humidity
The temperature feels different depending on humidity. Here is how humidity in New Orleans looks throughout the year, in %:
The most humid month in New Orleans is August with average humidity going up to 80%. The least humid month is March with an average humidity of 76%.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm. in New Orleans during the whole year based on historical data:
The sunniest and driest month is October with approximately 11 sunny days and a total precipitation of around 89 mm. The rainiest and wettest month is March with approximately 15 rainy days and 390 mm of total precipitation.
Snow
Amount of snow in mm. in New Orleans during the whole year based on historical data:
The snowiest month is January with approximately 0 snowy days.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in New Orleans:
What is the hottest month in New Orleans?
The hottest month in New Orleans is August with average maximum temperature of +88°F.
What is the coldest month in New Orleans?
The coldest month in New Orleans is January with minimum temperatures of +48°F.
Is New Orleans worth visiting in winter?
Winter in New Orleans could be a good time to visit, as the weather is generally ok.
When does it rain the least in New Orleans?
if you're looking to visit New Orleans when it rains the least, you should plan your trip for March, April, June. During this time, rainfall is rare with the driest month being November with only 87 mm of rain.
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.