Best Time to Visit New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Month-by-month climate guide for planning a trip to New Orleans.
New Orleans does not have a month that clearly fits our sunny profiles. Its practical travel window centres on its warmest (July, 28.4°C / 83.1°F) and driest (October, 79 mm / 3.1 in) months. The drier stretch runs through March–May and October–January; the wetter half falls in February and June–September. At the city itself, monthly average temperatures range from 11.6°C / 52.9°F in January to 28.4°C / 83.1°F in July, with rainfall from 79 mm / 3.1 in (October) to 167 mm / 6.6 in (July). These are point-value climate normals sampled at New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America's coordinates — usually more actionable for travellers than the country-wide average. New Orleans's climate is broadly seasonal. The full month-by-month table below lets you match your travel window against our five weather profiles.
Recommended months
| Month | Temp | Rain | Feels like |
|---|---|---|---|
| October | 21.5°C70.7°F | 79 mm3.1″ | — |
| May | 24.6°C76.3°F | 126 mm5″ | — |
| June | 27.3°C81.1°F | 142 mm5.6″ | — |
No month at New Orleans matches our sunny profiles. The three above are the driest-and-warmest fallback.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit New Orleans?
New Orleans doesn't have a month that clearly matches our sunny profiles. The practical travel window centres on October (driest, ~79 mm / 3.1 in) and July (warmest, 28.4°C / 83.1°F). Because these are point values at the city, they can differ substantially from United States of America's national average.
When is the rainy season in New Orleans?
The rainy season at New Orleans, Louisiana runs through February and June–September, when monthly rainfall exceeds the annual median of about 137 mm / 5.4 in. The wettest single month is July (167 mm / 6.6 in).
What is the driest month in New Orleans?
The driest month in New Orleans is October, averaging about 79 mm / 3.1 in of rainfall. Temperature that month averages 21.5°C / 70.7°F.
What months should I avoid visiting New Orleans?
The least comfortable months for travel to New Orleans — based on point-value climate at the city — are January, February, June, July, August, September, November, December. These are the wettest or coolest months at this location. Rainfall peaks at 167 mm / 6.6 in in July, and the coldest month averages 11.6°C / 52.9°F.
Is New Orleans climate different from United States of America overall?
Yes, usually. Our New Orleans figures are point-value climate normals sampled at the city itself, while our United States of America figures are area-weighted averages across the whole country. The two can diverge substantially in geographically diverse or elevation-varied countries. The month-by-month table below reflects New Orleans specifically — usually the more actionable data for a traveller planning to spend time in the city.