Winter
Dec → Feb18 to 20°
nights 8 to 10°
- 7 rainy days · 115 mm
When is the best time to visit New Orleans?
- Jan18°fair
- Feb20°recommended
- Mar24°recommended
- Apr27°recommended
- May31°recommended
- Jun34°fair
- Jul34°not recommended
- Aug34°not recommended
- Sep32°fair
- Oct28°recommended
- Nov23°recommended
- Dec19°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in New Orleans, month by month
The table of averages, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18° | 8° | 126 mm | 8 d | |
| February | 20° | 10° | 105 mm | 7 d | ✓ |
| March | 24° | 13° | 117 mm | 6 d | ✓ |
| April | 27° | 17° | 127 mm | 6 d | ✓ |
| May | 31° | 21° | 137 mm | 6 d | ✓ |
| June | 34° | 24° | 187 mm | 11 d | |
| July | 34° | 25° | 223 mm | 12 d | |
| August | 34° | 25° | 173 mm | 11 d | |
| September | 32° | 23° | 145 mm | 8 d | |
| October | 28° | 18° | 91 mm | 5 d | ✓ |
| November | 23° | 13° | 96 mm | 6 d | ✓ |
| December | 19° | 9° | 115 mm | 7 d |
The four seasons in New Orleans, in figures
What the 2015-2024 averages (New Orleans Audubon) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May24 to 31°
nights 13 to 21°
- 6 rainy days · 127 mm
Summer
Jun → Aug34°
nights 24 to 25°
- 11 rainy days · 194 mm
Autumn
Sep → Nov23 to 32°
nights 13 to 23°
- 6 rainy days · 111 mm
Book early for February 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 New Orleans, 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 14h03 of daylight, in December 10h14, a difference of 3h50.
10h25Jan
11h06Feb
11h55Mar
12h52Apr
13h39May
14h03Jun
13h53Jul
13h13Aug
12h18Sep
11h23Oct
10h36Nov
10h14Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "New Orleans Audubon" (29.92°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in New Orleans, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sightseeing & walks | ||||||||||||
| Long days |
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Sightseeing & walks: January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December
- Long days: June
Grid derived from the climate averages (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Fair18°8° at night
- 126 mm · 8 d
Low season, lower prices
February
Recommended20°10° at night
- 105 mm · 7 d
Busy, without the crush
March
Recommended24°13° at night
- 117 mm · 6 d
Busy, without the crush
April
Recommended27°17° at night
- 127 mm · 6 d
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended31°21° at night
- 137 mm · 6 d
Busy, without the crush
June
Fair34°24° at night
- 187 mm · 11 d
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended34°25° at night
- 223 mm · 12 d
Low season, lower prices
August
Not recommended34°25° at night
- 173 mm · 11 d
Low season, lower prices
September
Fair32°23° at night
- 145 mm · 8 d
Low season, lower prices
October
Recommended28°18° at night
- 91 mm · 5 d
Busy, without the crush
November
Recommended23°13° at night
- 96 mm · 6 d
Busy, without the crush
December
Fair19°9° at night
- 115 mm · 7 d
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 8 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (126 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 105 mm over 7 days. Busy season, without the crush.
March. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 117 mm over 6 days. Busy season, without the crush.
April. 27 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Rain stays light: 127 mm over 6 days. Busy season, without the crush.
May. 31 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Rain stays light: 137 mm over 6 days. Busy season, without the crush.
June. Real heat: 34 °C at the warmest of the day, 24 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (187 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. Real heat: 34 °C at the warmest of the day, 25 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (223 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. Real heat: 34 °C at the warmest of the day, 25 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (173 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
September. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 23 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (145 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. 28 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Rain stays light: 91 mm over 5 days. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 96 mm over 6 days. Busy season, without the crush.
December. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 115 mm over 7 days. 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 New Orleans?
February to May and October to November: over these months, average highs range from 20 to 31 °C, with 6 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 averages, New Orleans Audubon).
Which month should you avoid in New Orleans?
July: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 223 mm over 12 days of rain on average over 2015-2024 at the reference point (New Orleans Audubon).
What is the hottest month in New Orleans?
June, with 34 °C on average in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. 2015-2024 averages (New Orleans Audubon).
What is the coldest month in New Orleans?
January, with 18 °C at best during the day and 8 °C at night. 2015-2024 averages (New Orleans Audubon).
What is the driest month in New Orleans?
October: 91 mm over 5 days of rain, against 223 mm in July, the wettest month.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable New Orleans 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: John Hoey from Framingham, MA, United States / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Eugenio Felix / Pexels · Infrogmation of New Orleans / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Jeremy Thompson / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Infrogmation / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)