January in New Orleans: strong conditions, 7th of 12
Good · 7/10January averages 12°C (53°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Monthly rainfall reaches 112 mm — wet for this destination — but about 23 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 7/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 8.3/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on peak pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
February in New Orleans — reliably good (4th best month)
Good · 7.7/10February averages 15°C (58°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Monthly rainfall reaches 103 mm — wet for this destination — but about 22 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 7.7/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 8.3/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on peak pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
March in New Orleans — reliably good (5th best month)
Good · 7.1/10Temperatures hover around 18°C (65°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
152 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 27 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 7.1/10 on the same scale — 5th of 12 months, versus 8.3/10 for the best month here.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
April in New Orleans — reliably good (3rd best month)
Good · 8/10April averages 21°C (70°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Monthly rainfall reaches 112 mm — wet for this destination — but about 26 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 8/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 8.3/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
May in New Orleans — middling scores, decent value
Trade-offs · 5.8/10At 25°C (77°F) this is comfortable city weather in May, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.
167 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 28 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 5.8/10 on the same scale — 8th of 12 months, versus 8.3/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, October is materially better in New Orleans — 2.5 points higher on the same scale.
June in New Orleans — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.5/10June averages 28°C (82°F) and humidity near 78%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
Monthly rainfall reaches 182 mm — wet for this destination — but about 28 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 4.5/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 8.3/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? October scores 3.8 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
July in New Orleans — off-season conditions
Hardest · 4.1/10July averages 28°C (83°F) and humidity near 81%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
Monthly rainfall reaches 194 mm — wet for this destination — but about 29 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 4.1/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 8.3/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? October scores 4.2 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
August in New Orleans — off-season conditions
Hardest · 3.9/10Days in August average 29°C (84°F) and humidity near 76% — front-load outdoor plans before the heat builds and treat the middle of the day as indoor time.
This is the year's wettest stretch at 211 mm, but with about 27 days with 6+ hours of sunshine it is not a total loss; an indoor fallback covers the risk.
That is 3.9/10 on the same scale — 12th of 12 months, versus 8.3/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, October is materially better in New Orleans — 4.4 points higher on the same scale.
September in New Orleans — middling scores, decent value
Trade-offs · 5.1/10Days in September average 27°C (80°F) and humidity near 75% — front-load outdoor plans before the heat builds and treat the middle of the day as indoor time.
166 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 27 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 5.1/10 on the same scale — 9th of 12 months, versus 8.3/10 for the best month here.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, October is materially better in New Orleans — 3.2 points higher on the same scale.
October in New Orleans — the year's strongest window
Best window · 8.3/10October averages 22°C (72°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Rainfall runs 77 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 28 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.4 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for New Orleans at 8.3/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Plan for peak pricing, with crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.
November holds up well in New Orleans — 2nd best month
Good · 8.1/10November averages 18°C (64°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rainfall runs 85 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.7 hours of daylight.
It scores 8.1/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 8.3/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
December holds up well in New Orleans — 6th best month
Good · 7.1/10Temperatures hover around 15°C (59°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
129 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 25 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 7.1/10 on the same scale — 6th of 12 months, versus 8.3/10 for the best month here.
Expect peak pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
