New Orleans, Louisiana Weather
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
New Orleans weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Overcast——82°72°—
- FridayJun 5Light Showers82%0.01″84°71°+2°
- SaturdayJun 6Light Showers81%—86°75°+2°
- SundayJun 7Light Showers49%—86°75°0°
- MondayJun 8Overcast10%—88°74°+2°
- TuesdayJun 9Overcast16%—88°73°0°
- WednesdayJun 10Clear26%—89°75°+1°
PM2.5 at 8.7 µg/m³ (AQI 48) with a 0.71 fine-to-coarse ratio and 6 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points).
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 47 now. With UV 3.3 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 21 by mid-afternoon.
- Present
- AQI 47
- UV peak
- 3.3 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- clear
- Projected peak
- AQI 21
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 8.7 µg/m³ (AQI 48) with a 0.71 fine-to-coarse ratio and 6 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.71
- Wind
- light
- Recent rain
- 0h in last 6h
- Pattern
- stagnant smoke
Trends
Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.
Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
- Moonrise
- 4:00 AM
- Moonset
- 2:28 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias
New Orleans at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 11°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: February 15 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
SPC Convective Outlook
Storm Prediction Center — New Orleans
SPC has placed New Orleans in the General Thunderstorms category for severe thunderstorms today.
- TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
- TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
- DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.
Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | — |
| May | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
August brings New Orleans its warmest temperatures (~85°F mean) while January delivers the coldest (~54°F). Rainfall peaks in August (6.5 inches) and drops to its lowest point in November (3.6 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 54° | 5.3″ | 6 |
| February | 58° | 4.1″ | 6 |
| March | 64° | 4.6″ | 5 |
| April | 71° | 5.9″ | 5 |
| May | 78° | 4.9″ | 5 |
| June | 83° | 6.0″ | 9 |
| July | 84° | 6.3″ | 10 |
| August | 85° | 6.5″ | 8 |
| September | 81° | 4.6″ | 6 |
| October | 73° | 3.6″ | 5 |
| November | 63° | 3.6″ | 4 |
| December | 56° | 4.6″ | 6 |
Regional context
New Orleans falls within a humid subtropical climate region — sharing similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions with nearby cities in this cohort.
Similar climates: Baton Rouge, LA, Shreveport, LA, Lafayette, LA, Lake Charles, LA, Metairie, LA.
Naturalist notes
By late May, bald cypress trees along area waterways have fully leafed out after their winter dormancy.
June brings the peak nesting period for brown pelicans along Louisiana's coastal areas.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in New Orleans?
- New Orleans typically sees its last spring frost around mid-March, with the first fall frost returning around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in New Orleans?
- August delivers the most rainfall with about 6.5 inches on average; the city receives roughly 60 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in New Orleans?
- August typically brings the warmest temperatures, averaging about 85°F.
- What is the coldest month in New Orleans?
- January typically brings the coldest temperatures, averaging about 54°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in New Orleans?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be sown around the last spring frost (mid-March); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) should wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does New Orleans get?
- New Orleans sees about 75 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is New Orleans?
- New Orleans's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature; check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
New Orleans, Louisiana experiences a humid subtropical climate zone. January temperatures hover near 54°F while July averages 84°F — a 30°F seasonal swing.
Throughout the year, New Orleans receives about 60 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 75 rainy days.
Latitude (30.1°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation establish the rhythm of the year — shaping what grows here, when frost is likely, and what the weather story looks like day to day.