It’s not only jazz that characterizes New Orleans: from a meteorological point of view, the city is famous for its rain. The geographical area in which it is located, on the delta of the Mississippi River and therefore in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, makes the climate humid and subject to constant rainfall throughout the year.
Unfortunately, hurricanes are not rare and citizens remember with sadness Hurricane Katrina that devastated the city in 2005. All this doesn’t mean that it is impossible to visit one of the most exciting cities in the United States: you just need to know which seasons are the most favorable and travel prepared.
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Climate in New Orleans
As I mentioned, it rains very often in New Orleans, especially in summer: the average is as much as 62 inches of precipitation per year. The humid subtropical climate makes it difficult to run into really cold winters, while summers are usually very hot and muggy. Overall, Louisiana’s largest city certainly can’t be called the best in the States from a weather perspective, but that can’t be avoided.
From June to September, thunderstorms are the order of the day and the accompanying high winds can create a fair amount of disturbance for the visitor. But if you come here in the summer, fear not: you won’t be blown away by a tornado. In the extreme case of a hurricane in the year of your trip, weather alerts will warn you in time.
Winter in New Orleans
Winter on the Gulf Coast is especially mild. Forget the blanket of snow covering homes in the northern states and the freezing winds coming down from Canada. Winter temperatures here average 12 degrees and visiting between December and February is a good choice. January is the coldest month, but even here the lows very rarely drop below 7 degrees, so it’s pleasant to wander around the historic districts.
Winter is a relatively dry season for the city, though already wetter than the autumn months. This definitely makes it easier for a visitor who does not want to spend their vacation under a thunderstorm.
Precisely because of the favorable weather conditions, this is a season full of events, often jazz related. It is also one of the American cities where the European tradition of carnival is most felt, and choosing winter as the period for your trip can be worth it also to experience the magic of Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
Spring in New Orleans
It is difficult to define spring in this geographic area. The months of March and April are the ones that we could define as mid-season. During these weeks the temperatures rise a lot and the maximums in March already reach around 75 °F, while the nights are characterized by a pleasant temperature close to 60 °F.
The month of April, on the other hand, presents a greater thermal difference. While the minimum nightly temperatures remain similar to those of March, rising on average by a couple of degrees, the daily maximums are around 85 °F.
These temperatures, already considered summer in other U.S. cities, are purely spring-like here, mainly because of their variability. The April sun can be very warm, rising above 75 °F, as well as leaving the city immersed in the cool 72 °F of the most cloudy and windy days.
May is now the gateway to summer and is very similar to April in terms of characteristics: warm sun and cool breezes from the sea, but with a few more notches on the mercury column than the previous month.
Summer in New Orleans
Summer in New Orleans is particularly hot and rainy. In fact, June marks the beginning of the so-called hurricane season which lasts until November and sees its peak period from late August to September. If on one hand such a statement might seem frightening, on the other hand it must also be said that devastating hurricanes are not a constant, just remember that the last one, Katrina, dates back to 2005.
Until September, heatwaves are the master: daily highs often in the range between 85 and 95 °F, with humidity that leads to mugginess and a greater perception of air temperature. Rain is quite frequent, and sometimes it can fall torrentially. Being able to choose the period in which to travel, summer months are not the most recommended to visit the city.
Fall in New Orleans
October and November are ideal for venturing into the streets of the jazz capital. The likelihood of high winds drops significantly, muggy days are rarer, and monthly rainfall decreases. In fact, October is the driest month of the year, and in November the probability of precipitation goes up just a bit. Maximum temperatures gradually drop from 79-81 °F in early October to 62-64 °F in November, with very pleasant sunny days in both months. In November, the cold is not excessive and rain is still very rare, so we can call it one of the best months. Without a doubt, this is a good season to visit Lousiana and its biggest city.
Can you go swimming in the sea in New Orleans?
New Orleans is close to the inviting sea of the Gulf of Mexico and one would think that it is a popular seaside resort, but in fact, it is not. The first reason, easy to gather from the above, is that summer is the rainiest time.
The second reason is that New Orleans is located at the mouth of the Mississippi: the fact that the waters of one of the longest rivers in the world have their outlet here should make us think about the fact that the waters are not always to be considered crystal clear. New Orleans is basically surrounded by swamps rather than beaches and, if you want to spend a day at the beach, you will have to move away from the city.
When to go to New Orleans
We should start by saying when not to go to New Orleans: if possible, avoid the height of summer. Having total freedom of choice, choose a period from October to April, to have a greater chance of clear days and better temperatures. Prioritize fall and winter: in these seasons, the temperatures are great for visiting the city and almost certainly you will come across some event that animates the historic center, even without booking specifically on specific dates.
