AI-generatedNew Orleans at a glance
- Best time
- Feb – May, Oct – Dec
- Warmest month
- Jul · 31°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,350 h
- Rain a year
- 1,344 mm
- Climate
- Subtropical
- Time zone
- UTC−6 / UTC−5
- Elevation
- 0 m
Climate in New Orleans
New Orleans has a subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 31 °C, while January is the coolest at 16 °C. With around 2,350 hours of sunshine a year, New Orleans is sunny; June is the sunniest month with 8.0 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: February – May, October – December
October is the peak of the hurricane season
Good forSightseeing & walks
Keep in mindStorm season
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 20°
- Midday, 13:00: about 25°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 25°
- Evening, 20:00: about 22°
- Night, 23:00: about 21°
07:0118:31
Pleasant evenings; a light layer can help.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:46–07:33 · evening 17:59–18:45
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:37–06:46 · evening 18:45–18:55
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in New Orleans in October?
In October, New Orleans is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 85 mm. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in New Orleans.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 30 min07:01 – 18:31
- UV index
- 6 · highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 15 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 19 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 38 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 1 day30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−5America/Chicago
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %63 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %74 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
Sunshine hours in New Orleans
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 6.8 of 11.5 hours of daylight in New Orleans, 59 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in New Orleans
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 6 · highSeek shade around midday; sunscreen SPF 30+, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 11).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 20 min
- Fair skin
- about 25 min
- Light brown skin
- about 35 min
- Olive skin
- about 45 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in New Orleans: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, New Orleans has about 8 rainy days with 85 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in New Orleans
How breezy and how cloudy New Orleans is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in New Orleans typically peaks at 19 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 38 % of the sky over New Orleans: mostly sunny, with about 6.8 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in New Orleans
How often the day gets hot in New Orleans (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, New Orleans has about 1 hot days, with an average daytime high of 26 °C: often muggy. The air feels warmer than the thermometer says: light, airy clothes and slow days help.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in New Orleans
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
- Warm 20–24°
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
PleasantOctober: nights around 19°. Ideal for sleeping, often with the window open. Muggy on about 15 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (9°), the warmest in August (26°). Tropical nights of 20 °C and more are the rule from May to September; then air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep. Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) in April and in October. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 190 days a year, mostly from April to October.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 65 | 16° | 9° | 5.0 h | 10 | 94 |
| FebruaryFeb | 76 | 18° | 11° | 5.2 h | 9 | 106 |
| MarchMar | 78 | 21° | 14° | 6.1 h | 10 | 112 |
| AprilApr | 83 | 24° | 17° | 6.8 h | 8 | 96 |
| MayMay | 79 | 28° | 22° | 7.8 h | 9 | 95 |
| JuneJun | 51 | 30° | 25° | 8.0 h | 15 | 135 |
| JulyJul | 40 | 31° | 26° | 7.5 h | 19 | 146 |
| AugustAug | 39 | 31° | 26° | 6.7 h | 17 | 171 |
| SeptemberSep | 60 | 29° | 24° | 6.4 h | 13 | 129 |
| OctoberOct | 85 | 26° | 19° | 6.8 h | 8 | 85 |
| NovemberNov | 82 | 21° | 14° | 5.8 h | 7 | 80 |
| DecemberDec | 72 | 17° | 11° | 4.9 h | 9 | 94 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
29.95° N, 90.08° W · 0 m · America/Chicago
Best time to visit New Orleans
The best time to visit New Orleans is from February to May and from October to December. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from October to May. Rain is most frequent from June to September; the wettest month is August with 171 mm.
New Orleans through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
New Orleans in spring
Mar – May
Excellent
- 21–28 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days in all
New Orleans in summer
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 30–31 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 52 rainy days in all
New Orleans in autumn
Sep – Nov
Good
- 21–29 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days in all
New Orleans in winter
Dec – Feb
Good
- 16–18 °C by day
- 5 h of sun a day
- 28 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in New Orleans for you.
Your best months: April, October – November
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in New Orleans
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
October and April bring similar holiday weather to New Orleans (score 85 and 83). In April, days are 2 °C cooler than in October.
| Month | October | April |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 85 | 83 |
| Day high | 26° | 24° |
| Night low | 19° | 17° |
| Sunshine | 6.8 h | 6.8 h |
| Rainy days | 8 | 8 |
| Rainfall | 85 mmbetter | 96 mm |
| Muggy days | 15 | 12better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Oct – May
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Jun – Sep
12 or more rainy days
New Orleans month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
65January16° · 5 h
In January, New Orleans is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 94 mm in total. All in all, January is a good month for a holiday in New Orleans.
New Orleans in January76February18° · 5 h
In February, New Orleans is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 106 mm in total. All in all, February is a good month for a holiday in New Orleans.
New Orleans in February78March21° · 6 h
In March, New Orleans is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 112 mm in total. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in New Orleans.
New Orleans in March83April24° · 7 h
In April, New Orleans is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 96 mm. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in New Orleans.
New Orleans in April79May28° · 8 h
In May, New Orleans is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 95 mm in total. On about 6 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in New Orleans.
New Orleans in May51June30° · 8 h
In June, New Orleans is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 135 mm. On about 18 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in New Orleans.
New Orleans in June40July31° · 8 h
In July, New Orleans is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It rains often – on about 19 days, adding up to 146 mm. On about 23 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in New Orleans.
New Orleans in July39August31° · 7 h
In August, New Orleans is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 171 mm. On about 22 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in New Orleans.
New Orleans in August60September29° · 6 h
In September, New Orleans is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 129 mm in total. On about 11 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in New Orleans.
New Orleans in September85October26° · 7 h
In October, New Orleans is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 85 mm. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in New Orleans.
New Orleans in October82November21° · 6 h
In November, New Orleans is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 80 mm. All in all, November is an excellent month for a holiday in New Orleans.
New Orleans in November72December17° · 5 h
In December, New Orleans is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 94 mm in total. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in New Orleans.
New Orleans in DecemberNew Orleans compared
Put New Orleans side by side with another destination.
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New Orleans vs. Baton Rouge
In October the holiday weather in New Orleans and Baton Rouge is about equally good (score 85 vs. 86). During the day it is about as warm in Baton Rouge as in New Orleans.
| in October | New Orleans | Baton Rouge |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 85 | 86 |
| Daytime high | 26° | 26° |
| Sunshine | 7 h | 7 h |
| Rainy days | 8 | 7 |
| Best time | Feb – May, Oct – Dec | Feb – Apr, Oct – Dec |
Through the year
USA in October: the best places
In October, New Orleans ranks 11 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Panama City Beach25°26°90
- 2Destin26°26°89
- 3Clearwater Beach26°27°89
- 4Sarasota28°27°89
- 5Mobile26°25°87
- 6Baton Rouge26°86
- 7Fort Worth26°86
- 8St. Pete Beach27°27°86
- 11New OrleansThis page26°85
Planning a trip to New Orleans
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
New Orleans in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
New Orleans has its best school-holiday weather during October half-term (score 85) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 39).
- 82
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Excellent
- 23 °C by day
- 6.6 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 73
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 28 °C by day
- 7.8 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 39
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Poor
- 31 °C by day
- 7.0 h of sun a day
- 18 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 85
October half-term
Oct
ExcellentBest holidays
- 26 °C by day
- 6.8 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Keep in mind: Storm season
- 69
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Good
- 17 °C by day
- 5.0 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 9 h 25 min
- Distance
- 7,430 km
- Time zone
- UTC−5
- Jet lag
- About 4 days (6 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Storm season
New Orleans lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June: Season
- July: Season
- August: Peak
- September: Peak
- October: Peak
- November: Season
- December
Official season dates of the regional warning centres (NOAA, JMA, IMD, Météo-France, BoM); not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions about New Orleans
When is the best time to visit New Orleans?
The best time to visit New Orleans is from February to May and from October to December. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in New Orleans?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C and nights around 26 °C. January is the coolest month at 16 °C.
When does it rain most in New Orleans?
Rain is most frequent from June to September; the wettest month is August with 171 mm. The driest month is November with 80 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does New Orleans get?
New Orleans gets around 2,350 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 8.0 hours a day; in December there are 4.9 hours a day.
What time zone is New Orleans in?
New Orleans uses the time zone America/Chicago: UTC−6 in January and UTC−5 in July.
How long is the flight from London to New Orleans?
A nonstop flight from London to New Orleans takes about 9 h 25 min, for a straight-line distance of about 7,430 km.
When is hurricane season in New Orleans?
New Orleans lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
Which school holidays are best for New Orleans?
New Orleans has its best school-holiday weather during October half-term (score 85) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 39). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 82, May half-term 73, Summer holidays 39, October half-term 85, Christmas holidays 69.
Near New Orleans
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like New Orleans
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to New Orleans's – good alternatives.