New Orleans Weather
A month-by-month look at temperature, rainfall and what to pack in New Orleans. The annual average is 26°C high / 17°C low — hottest in July (33°C) and coldest in January (8°C).
New Orleans Weather at a Glance
As of 2026A quick summary of New Orleans's year-round climate and the best time to visit.
- Annual average
- 26° / 17°
- Best time to visit
- April, October, February
- Hottest month
- July (33°C)
- Coldest month
- January (8°C)
- Wettest month
- June (170mm)
- Driest month
- October (100mm)
As of 2026, New Orleans's weather averages 26°C high / 17°C low across the year, and the best time to visit for stable temperatures, rainfall and crowds is April, October, February. The hottest month is July (33°C), the coldest is January (8°C), and the wettest is June (170mm).
Best Time to Visit New Orleans
April is the year's #1 festival month — French Quarter Festival (4 days mid-April, free, 800,000 attendees, the locals' favorite) followed by Jazz Fest (last weekend April + first weekend May, 7-day spread, world's biggest jazz festival, ticketed at $90/day). Weather peaks: 26°C highs, 17°C lows, 8 sunshine hours, 7 rainy days. Outdoor festivals run from 11am-7pm at Fair Grounds Race Course (Jazz Fest) and 5 stages throughout French Quarter (French Quarter Festival). Lawn chairs and folding chairs essential. Hotel pricing spikes hard for both festival weekends: French Quarter 4-star $400-700/night during French Quarter Festival, $500-900 during Jazz Fest. Mid-April week between the two festivals is value window.
October is statistically New Orleans' best month overall — perfect 28°C highs, low humidity (73%), only 6 rainy days, hurricane risk dropping fast after October 15, and Halloween becoming a 4-day cultural event that rivals Mardi Gras for chaos. French Quarter Halloween (Oct 28-31 weekend) packs Bourbon Street with costumed visitors — costume + parade culture peak. Voodoo Music + Arts Experience (last weekend October at City Park) is the year's last major festival. Hotel pricing spikes for both Halloween + Voodoo weekend: French Quarter 4-star $350-650/night. Mid-October (Oct 1-21) is value-for-quality sweet spot: perfect weather, normal pricing, Treme Creole Gumbo Festival (free, mid-month).
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.
New Orleans Weather Month by Month
Tap any month for a detailed guide with what to wear, sunrise/sunset and air quality.
| Month | High/Low | Rain | Rainy days | Crowds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17° / 8° | 130mm | 9 | Quiet | Details → |
| February | 19° / 10° | 130mm | 8 | Very busy | Details → |
| March | 22° / 13° | 130mm | 8 | Busy | Details → |
| April | 26° / 17° | 110mm | 7 | Busy | Details → |
| May | 29° / 21° | 130mm | 7 | Moderate | Details → |
| June | 32° / 24° | 170mm | 10 | Moderate | Details → |
| July | 33° / 25° | 170mm | 11 | Quiet | Details → |
| August | 33° / 25° | 160mm | 11 | Quiet | Details → |
| September | 31° / 23° | 150mm | 9 | Quiet | Details → |
| October | 28° / 18° | 100mm | 6 | Moderate | Details → |
| November | 22° / 12° | 110mm | 7 | Moderate | Details → |
| December | 18° / 9° | 130mm | 9 | Moderate | Details → |
What to Wear in New Orleans by Season
Pleasant spring — T-shirt, light cardigan for AC indoors + evening, sneakers. Sunscreen SPF 30+ (UV index 7). Smart casual for Brennan's brunch + Commander's Palace dinner.
Year's hottest — loose linen, lightest cotton, sandals, hat, SPF 50+. Cooling neck towel. Modest indoor cover-up (most venues over-AC to 20°C).
Pleasant autumn — T-shirt + light cardigan, jeans or chinos, sneakers. Light umbrella. Halloween costume for late-month parades. Sunglasses + sunscreen SPF 30.
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.
New Orleans Weather FAQ
What is the best time to visit New Orleans? +
For weather, April, October, February are the most comfortable months. Highs sit around 26°C with relatively stable rainfall and crowds.
What are the hottest and coldest months in New Orleans? +
The hottest month is July with an average high of 33°C, and the coldest is January with an average low of 8°C. The annual average is 26°C high / 17°C low.
When does it rain most in New Orleans? +
The wettest month is June (170mm over about 10 rainy days) and the driest is October (100mm). Total annual rainfall is roughly 1620mm.
What should I pack for New Orleans? +
Spring (Mar–May) averages 26/17°C — Pleasant spring — T-shirt, light cardigan for AC indoors + evening, sneakers. Sunscreen SPF 30+ (UV index 7). Smart casual for Brennan's brunch + Commander's Palace dinner. Summer (Jun–Aug) averages 33/25°C — Year's hottest — loose linen, lightest cotton, sandals, hat, SPF 50+. Cooling neck towel. Modest indoor cover-up (most venues over-AC to 20°C). Autumn (Sep–Nov) averages 27/18°C — Pleasant autumn — T-shirt + light cardigan, jeans or chinos, sneakers. Light umbrella. Halloween costume for late-month parades. Sunglasses + sunscreen SPF 30. Winter (Dec–Feb) averages 18/9°C — 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 is the weather in New Orleans this month (June)? +
June averages 32°C high / 24°C low with 170mm rainfall over about 10 rainy days. Crowds are moderate and prices are moderate.
Keep Planning Your New Orleans Trip
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.