United States New Orleans Weather in December — Climate Guide
December in New Orleans is good
New Orleans Weather in December — Quick Answer
As of 2026- Avg temp
- 18° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 130mm · 9 days
- Crowds
- Moderate
As of 2026, New Orleans in December averages a high of 18°C and low of 9°C with 130mm of rain over about 9 days. Cool winter — wool sweater, jacket, jeans, closed shoes, scarf for evening. Festive attire for Réveillon dinners + NYE Bourbon Street. Light rain jacket (9 rainy days).
December is good for New Orleans.
December turns New Orleans into a Christmas-themed cultural destination. Christmas New Orleans Style (month-long free festival) includes caroling in Jackson Square (every Sunday), Celebration in the Oaks (City Park light display, $15/car or walking $5), and the iconic Réveillon Dinners — 4-course French Creole prix-fixe menus at 30+ heritage restaurants ($40-80/person) recreating the 1830s NOLA Christmas Eve tradition.
Weather is winter-cool: 18°C highs, 9°C lows, 9 rainy days. Hotel pricing climbs through the month: early December (Dec 1-19) value window, then Christmas-NYE peak (+50-100%). Sugar Bowl (January 1) week starts late December and drives Caesars Superdome hotel demand.
Travel score
Christmas New Orleans Style + Réveillon Dinners + NYE fleur-de-lis drop
December Weather at a Glance
December averages 64°F / 18°C highs and 48°F / 9°C lows with 9 rainy days and 130mm rainfall. Humidity 75%. UV 3. Sunshine 5 hours (year's lowest). Cool + damp pattern. NYE fireworks over Mississippi River from steamboat dock. Sugar Bowl typically January 1.
December Travel Advice
Réveillon Dinners book 1+ month ahead (Commander's Palace, Brennan's, Antoine's, Arnaud's, Galatoire's). Christmas-NYE week book 2-3 months ahead. Early December (Dec 1-19) value window. NYE Bourbon Street: dress warm, bring cash, expect chaos.
Flying In from Overseas
Christmas inbound from Canada, UK, Western Europe. Direct flights from Toronto $300-550, London $600-900, Frankfurt $700-1,000. Korean + Japanese winter holiday begins. Australian + South African summer holiday peak.
December Pricing Trends
Christmas-NYE pricing: French Quarter 4-star $350-650/night, Garden District B&B $300-550, Ritz-Carlton $500-900. Early December $180-320. Réveillon Dinners $40-80 prix-fixe. Sugar Bowl week Caesars Superdome area +50%.
New Orleans December Weather Stats
Avg High
18°C
Avg Low
9°C
Rainy Days
9
130mm total
Sunshine
5h
Daily avg
Humidity
75%
moderate
UV Index
3
Moderate
Wind
11 km/h
Gusts 22
Sea Temp
0°C
not swimmable
Crowds
Moderate
At attractions
December Sunrise & Sunset
Air Quality
PM2.5
20 μg/m³
PM10
40 μg/m³
Status
moderate
Feels-Like Temperature & Wind
Feels like
Daytime
18°C
Nighttime
8°C
Humidity and wind affect how the actual temperature feels.
Wind
11 km/h
Max gust 22 km/h
Activities Recommended for December
December Travel Pros & Cons
Pros
- Christmas New Orleans Style free festival
- Réveillon Dinners (heritage restaurants)
- Celebration in the Oaks lights
- NYE Bourbon Street countdown
- Sugar Bowl Jan 1
Cons
- Cool 18°C + 9 rainy days
- Christmas-NYE hotels +50-100%
- Réveillon books out 1+ month ahead
December Events & Festivals
- **Christmas New Orleans Style (free month-long festival)**
- **Réveillon Dinners (4-course French Creole prix-fixe at heritage restaurants)**
- Sugar Bowl + NYE Bourbon Street countdown
New Orleans in December — Full Picture
December turns New Orleans into a Christmas-themed cultural destination. Christmas New Orleans Style (month-long free festival) includes caroling in Jackson Square (every Sunday), Celebration in the Oaks (City Park light display, $15/car or walking $5), and the iconic Réveillon Dinners — 4-course French Creole prix-fixe menus at 30+ heritage restaurants ($40-80/person) recreating the 1830s NOLA Christmas Eve tradition.
Weather is winter-cool: 18°C highs, 9°C lows, 9 rainy days. Hotel pricing climbs through the month: early December (Dec 1-19) value window, then Christmas-NYE peak (+50-100%). Sugar Bowl (January 1) week starts late December and drives Caesars Superdome hotel demand.
NYE Bourbon Street countdown is a smaller-scale version of Times Square — the fleur-de-lis drop at Jackson Square, fireworks over the Mississippi, and Bourbon Street + Frenchmen Street partying through the night.
What to Wear & What to Pack
Cool winter — wool sweater, jacket, jeans, closed shoes, scarf for evening. Festive attire for Réveillon dinners + NYE Bourbon Street. Light rain jacket (9 rainy days).
Packing Checklist
Seasonal Weather Overview
Spring (Mar·Apr·May)
25.7°C
17°C
7.3/mo
Summer (Jun·Jul·Aug)
32.7°C
24.7°C
10.7/mo
Autumn (Sep·Oct·Nov)
27°C
17.7°C
7.3/mo
Winter (Dec·Jan·Feb)
Current18°C
9°C
8.7/mo
New Orleans Monthly Weather Comparison
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Humid | UV | Crowd | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17° | 8° | 9d·130mm | 5h | 75% | 3 | Quiet | Low season | |
| February (Best) | 19° | 10° | 8d·130mm | 6h | 75% | 4 | Very busy | Peak |
| March (Best) | 22° | 13° | 8d·130mm | 7h | 73% | 5 | Busy | Peak |
| April (Best) | 26° | 17° | 7d·110mm | 8h | 73% | 7 | Busy | Peak |
| 29° | 21° | 7d·130mm | 9h | 75% | 8 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| 32° | 24° | 10d·170mm | 9h | 80% | 9 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| 33° | 25° | 11d·170mm | 9h | 81% | 10 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 33° | 25° | 11d·160mm | 8h | 81% | 9 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 31° | 23° | 9d·150mm | 8h | 79% | 7 | Quiet | Low season | |
| October (Best) | 28° | 18° | 6d·100mm | 8h | 73% | 6 | Moderate | Shoulder |
| November (Best) | 22° | 12° | 7d·110mm | 7h | 73% | 4 | Moderate | Shoulder |
| 18° | 9° | 9d·130mm | 5h | 75% | 3 | Moderate | Shoulder |
View Other Months
New Orleans December Hotel Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is December a good time to visit New Orleans?
New Orleans in December is good. Tourist crowds are moderate and flight/hotel prices are shoulder.
What's the average temperature in New Orleans in December?
New Orleans December averages a high of 18°C and a low of 9°C.
Does it rain much in New Orleans in December?
New Orleans December averages 130mm of rainfall over about 9 rainy days.
What should I wear in New Orleans in December?
Cool winter — wool sweater, jacket, jeans, closed shoes, scarf for evening. Festive attire for Réveillon dinners + NYE Bourbon Street. Light rain jacket (9 rainy days).
What time are sunrise and sunset in New Orleans in December?
New Orleans December sunrise is 06:55 and sunset is 17:10, with 10h 15min of daylight.
What's the air quality like in New Orleans in December?
New Orleans December air quality (AQI) averages 50, rated Good. PM2.5 averages 20μg/m³.
What activities are recommended in New Orleans in December?
In December, New Orleans is great for Christmas New Orleans Style, Réveillon Dinners, Celebration in the Oaks.
Is December peak season in New Orleans?
New Orleans December crowds are moderate and prices are shoulder. You can travel relatively comfortably without long queues.
Best Months to Visit New Orleans
View Other Months
Planning a December trip to New Orleans?
You've checked the weather — next come the budget and the route.
Why you can trust weather guide
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.