New Orleans has a humid subtropical climate, which is characterized by hot, humid summers and mild winters. The climate is heavily influenced by the Gulf of Mexico, which moderates temperatures and provides plenty of moisture. Summers temperatures average around the mid-80s Fahrenheit (30s Celsius) and occasional heat waves produce temperatures well into the 90s Fahrenheit (mid-30s Celsius). Winters are mild, with temperatures usually remaining above freezing and rarely dipping below 50°F (10°C). Snowfall is rare occurence.
Rainfall however is abundant throughout the year, with an average of about 61 inches (155 cm) annually. The wettest months are usually April through June, while October to December tend to be the driest months.
New Orleans also experiences occasional tropical storms and hurricanes, which can bring strong winds, heavy rain and flooding. The hurricane season typically runs from June through November.
The bar chart below shows the average monthly peak daytime temperatures at New Orleans
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
°C | 15.9 | 17.7 | 21.7 | 25.5 | 28.9 | 31.7 | 32.5 | 32.3 | 30.3 | 26.2 | 21.5 | 17.8 |
°F | 60.6 | 63.8 | 71 | 77.9 | 84 | 89.1 | 90.5 | 90.2 | 86.6 | 79.2 | 70.7 | 64.1 |
Please note: these are the average peak daytime temperatures (usually around mid-afternoon) so do not show daytime / night highs and lows. To see the daily range of temperatures have a look at the temperature max / min chart below.
The graph below shows the average rainfall and number of rainy days per month.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mm | 128 | 134 | 125 | 127 | 122 | 142 | 174 | 163 | 147 | 73 | 106 | 128 |
inches | 5 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 5 | 4.8 | 5.6 | 6.9 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 5.1 |
Rainy days | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
Average annual rainfall in New Orleans: 1510.234mm (594.6 inches)
The bar chart below shows the average daily sunshine hours in New Orleans
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hrs sunshine | 5.6 | 6.5 | 7.7 | 9.2 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.1 | 8.4 | 6.5 | 5.8 |
The graph below shows the daily range of temperatures for each month.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Min °C | 6.3 | 7.9 | 11.7 | 15.7 | 19.3 | 22.5 | 23.5 | 23.5 | 21.7 | 15.9 | 11.7 | 8.2 |
Max °C | 16.2 | 17.9 | 21.9 | 25.8 | 29.1 | 32 | 32.7 | 32.6 | 30.6 | 26.5 | 21.8 | 18.1 |
Min °F | 43.3 | 46.2 | 53.1 | 60.2 | 66.7 | 72.4 | 74.3 | 74.2 | 71 | 60.6 | 53 | 46.7 |
Max °F | 52.2 | 55.2 | 62.2 | 69.3 | 75.6 | 81 | 82.6 | 82.4 | 79 | 70.2 | 62.1 | 55.6 |
The graph below shows the average sea temperature.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
°C | 18.1 | 17.8 | 19 | 21.6 | 25.1 | 28.3 | 29.6 | 29.8 | 28.6 | 25.6 | 22.4 | 20 |
°F | 64.6 | 64 | 66.2 | 70.9 | 77.2 | 83 | 85.4 | 85.7 | 83.5 | 78.1 | 72.3 | 68 |
The graph below shows the average wind speed.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
km/h | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 15 |
mph | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
A monthly average windspeed of over 16km/h or 10mph suggests a location is fairly windy.
The graph below shows the average relative humidity.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
76% | 73% | 73% | 73% | 74% | 76% | 79% | 79% | 78% | 75% | 77% | 77% |
Hottest month: | July | 32.5°C 90.5°F |
---|---|---|
Driest month: | October | 73mm 2.9ins |
Sunniest month: | October | 8.4hrs |
Coldest month: | January | 15.9°C 60.6°F |
Wettest month: | July | 174mm 6.9ins |
Warmest sea: | August | 29.8°C 85.6°F |