United States New Orleans Weather in February — Climate Guide
February in New Orleans is very-high
New Orleans Weather in February — Quick Answer
As of 2026- Avg temp
- 19° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 130mm · 8 days
- Crowds
- Very busy
As of 2026, New Orleans in February averages a high of 19°C and low of 10°C with 130mm of rain over about 8 days. Mild day, cool evening — light jacket, jeans, T-shirt or sweater. Mardi Gras week: comfortable layered costume + closed shoes (parades involve standing 4-6 hours). Bring throws (catch beads). Waterproof bag for cocktail spills + parade chaos.
February is very-high for New Orleans.
February is Mardi Gras peak — Fat Tuesday falls late February or early March depending on year (47 days before Easter). The 6-week parade season climaxes the 2 weeks before Fat Tuesday with super-krewe parades (Endymion Saturday, Bacchus Sunday, Zulu Monday morning + Rex Monday afternoon, then chaos all of Fat Tuesday). 1.4M visitors descend on the city.
Weather cooperates: pleasant 19°C highs, low rain probability during parade days (statistically), sunshine improving. Costume + light jacket is standard parade attire. Bourbon Street fills with body-painted partyers; family parades on St. Charles Avenue have legitimate New Orleans culture (king cakes thrown, doubloons collected).
Travel score
Mardi Gras peak — world's biggest carnival (1.4M visitors)
February Weather at a Glance
February averages 66°F / 19°C highs and 50°F / 10°C lows with 8 rainy days and 130mm of rainfall. Humidity 75%. Sunshine 6 hours. Days warm enough for outdoor parades; evenings need a jacket. Statistically the chance of rain on Fat Tuesday is ~30% — pack a poncho just in case.
February Travel Advice
Mardi Gras booking: 8-12 months ahead for French Quarter or St. Charles Avenue hotels. Parade-day strategy: stake your spot 3-4 hours before (St. Charles + Napoleon Ave intersection is canonical). Bring cash + small bills (cards refused on parade routes). Family parades on Sunday afternoons on St. Charles are gentler than Bourbon Street Fat Tuesday chaos. Costume not mandatory but expected.
Flying In from Overseas
Mardi Gras inbound surge from US (full continental) + Canada + UK + Australia + Brazil (Carnival cultural overlap). Hotel + flight pricing peaks. Direct flights from Toronto $400-700, London $700-1,100, Frankfurt $800-1,200. Korean + Japanese + Chinese visitors increasing but small base. No direct intercontinental Asian service.
February Pricing Trends
Mardi Gras weekend: French Quarter 4-star $500-1,200/night, Garden District B&B $400-700, Ritz-Carlton $800-1,500. Early February (Feb 1-15 in non-Mardi-Gras years) +20-30% above shoulder. Post-Fat-Tuesday week drops -40%.
New Orleans February Weather Stats
Avg High
19°C
Avg Low
10°C
Rainy Days
8
130mm total
Sunshine
6h
Daily avg
Humidity
75%
moderate
UV Index
4
Moderate
Wind
11 km/h
Gusts 22
Sea Temp
0°C
not swimmable
Crowds
Very busy
At attractions
February Sunrise & Sunset
Air Quality
PM2.5
20 μg/m³
PM10
40 μg/m³
Status
moderate
Feels-Like Temperature & Wind
Feels like
Daytime
19°C
Nighttime
9°C
Humidity and wind affect how the actual temperature feels.
Wind
11 km/h
Max gust 22 km/h
Activities Recommended for February
February Travel Pros & Cons
Pros
- Mardi Gras peak (world's biggest carnival)
- Pleasant weather (19°C)
- Endymion + Bacchus + Zulu super-krewe parades
- Cultural-immersion peak
Cons
- Hotels 3-5x peak pricing
- Massive crowds + Bourbon Street chaos
- Reservation impossibility post-Lundi Gras
- Pickpocket + drunk-tourist concentration
February Events & Festivals
- **Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday late Feb-early Mar — world's largest carnival, 1.4M visitors)**
- Endymion + Bacchus + Zulu super-krewe parades
- Lundi Gras Mississippi River party (Mon before Fat Tuesday)
New Orleans in February — Full Picture
February is Mardi Gras peak — Fat Tuesday falls late February or early March depending on year (47 days before Easter). The 6-week parade season climaxes the 2 weeks before Fat Tuesday with super-krewe parades (Endymion Saturday, Bacchus Sunday, Zulu Monday morning + Rex Monday afternoon, then chaos all of Fat Tuesday). 1.4M visitors descend on the city.
Weather cooperates: pleasant 19°C highs, low rain probability during parade days (statistically), sunshine improving. Costume + light jacket is standard parade attire. Bourbon Street fills with body-painted partyers; family parades on St. Charles Avenue have legitimate New Orleans culture (king cakes thrown, doubloons collected).
Hotel pricing peaks: French Quarter 4-star $500-1,200/night for the 4-day Mardi Gras weekend. Book 8-12 months ahead. Non-Mardi-Gras weeks of February (early month, post-Fat-Tuesday) are normal-priced and pleasant.
What to Wear & What to Pack
Mild day, cool evening — light jacket, jeans, T-shirt or sweater. Mardi Gras week: comfortable layered costume + closed shoes (parades involve standing 4-6 hours). Bring throws (catch beads). Waterproof bag for cocktail spills + parade chaos.
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 February Hotel Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is February a good time to visit New Orleans?
New Orleans in February is very-high. Tourist crowds are very busy and flight/hotel prices are peak.
What's the average temperature in New Orleans in February?
New Orleans February averages a high of 19°C and a low of 10°C.
Does it rain much in New Orleans in February?
New Orleans February averages 130mm of rainfall over about 8 rainy days.
What should I wear in New Orleans in February?
Mild day, cool evening — light jacket, jeans, T-shirt or sweater. Mardi Gras week: comfortable layered costume + closed shoes (parades involve standing 4-6 hours). Bring throws (catch beads). Waterproof bag for cocktail spills + parade chaos.
What time are sunrise and sunset in New Orleans in February?
New Orleans February sunrise is 06:45 and sunset is 17:50, with 11h 5min of daylight.
What's the air quality like in New Orleans in February?
New Orleans February air quality (AQI) averages 50, rated Good. PM2.5 averages 20μg/m³.
What activities are recommended in New Orleans in February?
In February, New Orleans is great for Mardi Gras parades St. Charles, Bourbon Street Fat Tuesday, Zulu parade Monday.
Is February peak season in New Orleans?
New Orleans February crowds are very busy and prices are peak. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Best Months to Visit New Orleans
View Other Months
Planning a February trip to New Orleans?
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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.