Best time to visit New Orleans

January is a great month to visit New Orleans for those looking for a break from cold winter weather. Even though it’s the coldest month in New Orleans, you can walk around the city all day with seven hours of sunshine and comfortable temperatures around 10-15 °C (50-60s °F). You don’t need to pack a heavy winter coat, just a light jacket will do. January is also a quite wet month in New Orleans. Rain is possible for 10 days so you might want to pack an umbrella. Most days will be a mixture of sun and cloudy skies. This weather is perfect for sightseeing in the French Quarter, St. Charles Avenue, or the Arts/Warehouse District.

February can be rather dreadful in many parts of the world, but not in New Orleans where it’s quite warm and sunny. Seven hours of sunshine and moderate temperatures that rise up to 18 °C (65 °F) during sunny afternoons provide many opportunities for sightseeing, boating, and hiking. You won’t feel cold when you’ll party outdoors during Mardi Gras or if you decide to escape the city and explore picturesque Mississippi river banks. February is a bit dryer than January. Even though it might rain for 12 days, the rains are short and not too heavy. Anyway, you might want to pack a light waterproof jacket for colder weather and some t-shorts for warmer days.

Spring is a beautiful time in New Orleans. March brings warmer temperatures, more sunshine and lots of blooms to the city. With eight hours of sunshine, you can plan lots of outdoor activities: from sightseeing to kayaking. On some days the temperature can reach 20s Celsius (seventies Fahrenheit). These first balmy sunny afternoons are especially enjoyable. While skies are mostly sunny in March, rain is also possible, but not as frequently as in February or January. There are 9 rainy days in March. You’ll probably need a light waterproof jacket for the rain and late evening, but also make sure to pack t-shirts and shorts for sunny afternoons.

April weather is gorgeous in New Orleans, which makes this month one of the best times to visit the city. Temperatures rise to the mid-20s Celsius or mid-70s. It really feels like summer. April is a great time to sit in outdoor cafes and go sightseeing in The French Quartier or boating in Louisiana’s famous bayous. With 10 hours of sunshine, you can plan lots of outdoor activities in your day. April is also one of the dryest months in New Orleans. Rain is possible for seven days. Water temperature is reaching 21°C (70°F) which makes kayaking especially enjoyable.

May is one of the most popular times to visit New Orleans. The weather during this month is perfectly summer-like. With temperatures reaching high 20s or mid-80s, it’s very comfortable to be outside sightseeing, sitting in numerous cafes and exploring parks and bayous. Since it gets rather hot during the day, bring some shorts and light breathable clothes. And don’t forget your sunscreen. There are 10 hours of sunshine per day. New Orleans is not too rainy in May with just 8 rainy days per month. The water temperature gets as warm as air by mid-May. You might want to drive a few hours to get to the beach on the Gulf Coast. In the evenings the air may cool down a bit which feels quite good after hot sunny days.

June is still a good time to visit New Orleans if you don’t mind the heat. Take into consideration that the temperatures during afternoons rise up to 28-30 Celsius or high 80s Fahrenheit, which can be rather exhausting. Don’t forget to bring a sunhat, stay hydrated and apply sunscreen. Light breathable clothing would be very handy for June in New Orleans. June also marks the beginning of the summer thunderstorm season in New Orleans. It also gets a little wetter than in May or April. Expect about 13 days with rainfall this month so don’t forget to pack an umbrella. on an average of 13 days of the month.

July is the hottest month of the year in New Orleans. So if you don’t like heat you might want to choose another time to visit the city. During afternoons you would frequently experience temperatures in 30s Celsius or 90s Fahrenheit. Only cool nights bring some relief from the heat. There are 10 hours of sun per day. If you decide to visit the city in July, bring some sun protection, light breathable clothes, and a sunhat. July is also the wettest month of the year in New Orleans. You can expect some thunderstorms, tropical downpours and showers for 15 days.

August is still mercilessly hot. Expect the temperature to rise to 30°C or 89°F every day. Humidity is also quite high, which makes it harder to walk around the city. With 10 hours of sunshine on average, you will need lots of sunscreen lotion, water, and a sunhat. Nights bring some cool air and relief from the heat. July is the perfect time to stay up long dining or partying in an outdoor location. August has all the attributes of a tropical summer: extreme heat, thunderstorms, and downpours. Even though this month is a bit drier than July, there are still 14 rainy days so don’t forget to pack your umbrella.

The first month of fall still feels like summer in New Orleans. The temperature drops only insignificantly in comparison with July and August. You can still walk around in shorts and t-shirts so you won’t need any warm clothes, maybe just a waterproof jacket. Even though September is a bit drier than summer months, humidity is still hight and rains are quite frequent. There are 10 rainy days this month. With cooler and drier weather setting in the second half of September brings back hiking, sightseeing and all kinds of outdoor sports in New Orleans. It’s a perfect time to take advantage of everything this city has to offer.

October is one of the best months in New Orleans in terms of weather. The heat is gone and temperatures stay pleasantly warm in 20s Celsius (70s Fahrenheit). Nights start to get cooler in October so bring a sweater or a light jacket to feel comfortable. There are still nine hours of sunshine, and skies are perfectly clear. You can do absolutely anything in New Orleans at this time of the year. Walking, cycling, boating, and kayaking are recommended. October is the driest month of the year. There are just seven rainy days this month. However, thunderstorms still occur from time to time, reminding of the summer. However, there is a fair chance you will see perfectly warm and dry weather at this time of the year.

November is still a great time to visit New Orleans. Days are perfectly comfortable due to mild temperatures reaching upper 17 Celsius or upper 60s Fahrenheit. Pack a sweater and a light jacket for late evening and early morning chills, but days are mostly dry and warm. You can still walk around in a t-shirt and shorts. With eight hours of sunshine every day, you can still do a lot of sightseeing, swamp tours, and hiking. But the skies in November are not as clear as in October. Cloudy weather is more common. It’s still quite dry, compared with the summer. There are just seven rainy days in November. However, humidity stays rather high.

New Orleans weather in December is quite moderate and comfortable. Due to the subtropical climate, the temperature doesn’t drop lower than 9°C (48°F). Most days are warm, and during sunny afternoons the temperature rises to 18°C(64°F). It’s perfect weather for outdoor Christmas activities, sightseeing or cycling. There are still about 5 hours of sunshine on average in December, however, the skies often remain cloudy. The rain picks up compared to the previous months. There are 10 rainy days in November so bringing a waterproof jacket will be a good idea.