Winter
Dec → Feb16 to 19°
nights 9 to 12°
- 12 rainy days · 121 mm
- sea 14°
When is the best time to visit Louisiana?
- Jan16°not recommended
- Feb19°fair
- Mar22°recommended
- Apr25°recommended
- May28°recommended
- Jun30°fair
- Jul31°not recommended
- Aug31°not recommended
- Sep29°fair
- Oct26°recommended
- Nov21°recommended
- Dec18°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Louisiana, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16° | 9° | 114 mm | 12 d | 12° | |
| February | 19° | 11° | 107 mm | 11 d | 14° | |
| March | 22° | 15° | 131 mm | 12 d | 20° | ✓ |
| April | 25° | 17° | 121 mm | 12 d | 23° | ✓ |
| May | 28° | 21° | 138 mm | 14 d | 27° | ✓ |
| June | 30° | 24° | 199 mm | 18 d | 30° | |
| July | 31° | 25° | 204 mm | 21 d | 32° | |
| August | 31° | 26° | 225 mm | 20 d | 32° | |
| September | 29° | 24° | 167 mm | 15 d | 29° | |
| October | 26° | 19° | 104 mm | 8 d | 25° | ✓ |
| November | 21° | 14° | 94 mm | 10 d | 21° | ✓ |
| December | 18° | 12° | 142 mm | 12 d | 15° |
The four seasons in Louisiana, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (New Orleans) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May22 to 28°
nights 15 to 21°
- 13 rainy days · 130 mm
- sea 23°
Summer
Jun → Aug30 to 31°
nights 24 to 26°
- 20 rainy days · 209 mm
- sea 31°
Autumn
Sep → Nov21 to 29°
nights 14 to 24°
- 11 rainy days · 122 mm
- sea 25°
Book early for March to May and October to November
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Louisiana, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h04 of daylight, in December 10h14, a difference of 3h50.
10h25Jan
11h05Feb
11h55Mar
12h52Apr
13h39May
14h04Jun
13h54Jul
13h13Aug
12h18Sep
11h23Oct
10h36Nov
10h14Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "New Orleans" (29.96°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Louisiana, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Sightseeing & walks | ||||||||||||
| Diving & snorkelling | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
EventsMardi GrasFebruary to MarchFrench Quarter FestivalAprilNew Orleans Jazz & Heritage FestivalApril to MayBreaux Bridge Crawfish FestivalMayDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Beach & swimming: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
- Sightseeing & walks: January, February, March, April, October, November, December
- Diving & snorkelling: May, June, July, August, September, October
- Long days: June
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Louisiana, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- February to MarchMardi Gras big crowds
The krewe parades begin weeks before Fat Tuesday, in New Orleans but also on horseback in Mamou and Eunice.
- AprilFrench Quarter Festival big crowds
In mid-April, free stages are set up in the French Quarter and along the Mississippi riverfront, with non-stop jazz and local food.
- April to MayNew Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival big crowds
Spanning late April and early May, the racecourse hosts a dozen stages, from gospel to funk, and Creole food stalls.
- MayBreaux Bridge Crawfish Festival
On the first weekend of May, the small Cajun town serves boiled crawfish and dances to zydeco late into the night.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended16°9° at night
- 114 mm · 12 d
- sea 12°
Low season, lower prices
February
Fair19°11° at night
- 107 mm · 11 d
- sea 14°
Busy, without the crush
March
Recommended22°15° at night
- 131 mm · 12 d
- sea 20°
High season, book early
April
Recommended25°17° at night
- 121 mm · 12 d
- sea 23°
High season, book early
May
Recommended28°21° at night
- 138 mm · 14 d
- sea 27°
High season, book early
June
Fair30°24° at night
- 199 mm · 18 d
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended31°25° at night
- 204 mm · 21 d
- sea 32°
Low season, lower prices
August
Not recommended31°26° at night
- 225 mm · 20 d
- sea 32°
Low season, lower prices
September
Fair29°24° at night
- 167 mm · 15 d
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
October
Recommended26°19° at night
- 104 mm · 8 d
- sea 25°
Busy, without the crush
November
Recommended21°14° at night
- 94 mm · 10 d
- sea 21°
Busy, without the crush
December
Fair18°12° at night
- 142 mm · 12 d
- sea 15°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 16 °C at best, 9 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (114 mm). Sea at 12 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (107 mm). Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
March. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (131 mm). Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
April. 25 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (121 mm). The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
May. 28 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Frequent rain: 138 mm over 14 days. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
June. 30 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. Frequent rain: 199 mm over 18 days. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. 31 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. A very wet month, 204 mm of rain over 21 days. The sea is at 32 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. 31 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. A very wet month, 225 mm of rain over 20 days. The sea is at 32 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
September. 29 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. Frequent rain: 167 mm over 15 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. 26 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (104 mm). The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (94 mm). Cool sea (21 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
December. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (142 mm). Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Louisiana?
March to May and October to November: over these months, recorded highs range from 21 to 28 °C, with 11 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, New Orleans).
Which month should you avoid in Louisiana?
August: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 225 mm over 20 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (New Orleans).
What is the hottest month in Louisiana?
July, with 31 °C on average in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (New Orleans).
What is the coldest month in Louisiana?
January, with 16 °C at best during the day and 9 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (New Orleans).
What is the driest month in Louisiana?
November: 94 mm over 10 days of rain, against 225 mm in August, the wettest month.
When can you swim in Louisiana?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in April, May, June, July, August, September, October (warmest 32 °C in July), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Avery Island).
When to go diving or snorkelling in Louisiana?
May, June, July, August, September, October: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Avery Island).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Louisiana guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit the American West: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Eugenio Felix / Pexels · Eric Prouzet / Pexels · Fernando B M / Pexels · Oljamu / Pexels · Tom Fournier / Pexels