Measured, not vibes
Best Time to Visit New Orleans
By measured weather comfort, the top months for New Orleans are November, October, March — and RouteVerdict's editorial pick, which also weighs crowds and prices, is February, March, April, October, November. The table below is computed from ERA5 reanalysis data for 2020–2024, measured at New Orleans.
Month by month
New Orleans weather and comfort, 2020–2024
| Month | Avg high | Wet days | Comfort | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17.2°C / 63°F | 9.8 | 65 | Shoulder |
| February | 19°C / 66°F | 9.5 | 73 | |
| March | 23°C / 73°F | 11.2 | 78 | Best |
| April | 25°C / 77°F | 10.5 | 77 | |
| May | 28.8°C / 84°F | 12.2 | 61 | |
| June | 31°C / 88°F | 15.5 | 47 | |
| July | 31.1°C / 88°F | 20.5 | 43 | |
| August | 32°C / 90°F | 14.2 | 43 | |
| September | 29.2°C / 85°F | 12.7 | 59 | |
| October | 26.1°C / 79°F | 6.3 | 82 | Best |
| November | 21.5°C / 71°F | 7.7 | 83 | Best |
| December | 18.7°C / 66°F | 8 | 75 | Shoulder |
Comfort is RouteVerdict's 0–100 score: 100·exp(−(high−23)²/162) × (1 − min(0.35, wet days × 0.02)). The full method is on the methodology page. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (ERA5, CC BY 4.0), 2020–2024 normals. Wet day = ≥1 mm precipitation.
What the seasons are actually like
Traveling to New Orleans month by month
New Orleans' comfort score peaks in autumn: November leads at 83.4 with an average high of 21.5°C, just ahead of October's 82.4. Both are notably drier than summer, at 7.7 and 6.3 wet days. Midsummer (June–August) brings the highest rainfall of the year, 14.2–20.5 wet days a month, with July's 20.5 the peak, and comfort drops to 43.4–46.5 as heat and humidity combine. March also scores well at 77.6, part of why RouteVerdict's editorial pick spans February through April alongside October and November. Winter (December–January) is milder than many places at this latitude, with highs of 17.2–18.7°C and comfort scores of 65.3–74.9.
FAQ
New Orleans timing questions
What is the best month to visit New Orleans?
By measured weather comfort (ERA5 2020–2024), the top months are November, October, and March, with November scoring highest. RouteVerdict's editorial pick is February, March, April, October, and November, which also weighs crowds, prices, and events.
What is the hottest month in New Orleans?
August, with an average daily high of 32°C (90°F).
What is the rainiest month in New Orleans?
July, averaging 20.5 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation.
When is shoulder season in New Orleans?
December and January — the best-scoring months outside both the measured top three and RouteVerdict's editorial peak-season pick.
What is New Orleans' single best month for weather?
November, with an average high of 21.5°C, only 7.7 wet days, and a comfort score of 83.4 — the highest measured for any month.
Is summer (June–August) the wrong time to visit New Orleans?
It's the wettest and least comfortable stretch — July alone averages 20.5 wet days, and comfort scores fall to 43.4–46.5 across the three months — but it's not unlivable, just noticeably harder than autumn's 82.4–83.4.