Baton Rouge, Louisiana Weather
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Baton Rouge weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Overcast15%—83°70°—
- FridayJun 5Light Drizzle57%—88°68°+5°
- SaturdayJun 6Light Showers80%—85°73°-3°
- SundayJun 7Light Showers64%—87°72°+2°
- MondayJun 8Light Drizzle31%—89°73°+2°
- TuesdayJun 9Overcast38%—91°73°+2°
- WednesdayJun 10Mostly Clear42%—93°74°+2°
PM2.5 at 7.0 µg/m³ (AQI 39) with a 0.83 fine-to-coarse ratio and 2 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±4 points).
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion during the projected peak around 7 AM.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 34. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~62%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.
- Present
- AQI 34
- UV peak
- 3.3 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- overcast
- Projected peak
- AQI 8
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 7.0 µg/m³ (AQI 39) with a 0.83 fine-to-coarse ratio and 2 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.83
- Wind
- calm
- 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
- 4:06 AM
- Moonset
- 2:32 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias
Baton Rouge at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 11°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: February 18 (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 — Baton Rouge
SPC has placed Baton Rouge 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
July brings Baton Rouge's warmest temperatures (~82°F mean) while January delivers the coldest (~50°F). Rainfall reaches its peak in June (6.5 inches) and drops to its lowest point in November (4.0 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 50° | 5.8″ | 7 |
| February | 54° | 4.7″ | 6 |
| March | 61° | 4.4″ | 6 |
| April | 67° | 4.9″ | 5 |
| May | 75° | 5.6″ | 6 |
| June | 80° | 6.5″ | 9 |
| July | 82° | 4.7″ | 9 |
| August | 82° | 6.1″ | 8 |
| September | 78° | 4.5″ | 6 |
| October | 69° | 4.2″ | 4 |
| November | 59° | 4.0″ | 5 |
| December | 53° | 5.2″ | 7 |
Regional context
Baton Rouge falls within a humid subtropical climate region — part of a group that experiences similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions across nearby cities.
Similar climates: New Orleans, LA, Shreveport, LA, Lafayette, LA, Lake Charles, LA, Metairie, LA.
Naturalist notes
Late April brings the distinctive calls of wood thrushes returning to Baton Rouge's woodlands, marking the height of spring migration.
Southern magnolia trees begin opening their large white blooms in May, filling the air with their characteristic lemony fragrance.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Baton Rouge?
- The last spring frost in Baton Rouge typically occurs around mid-March, with the first fall frost arriving around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in Baton Rouge?
- June receives the most rainfall with about 6.5 inches on average; Baton Rouge gets roughly 61 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Baton Rouge?
- July typically brings the warmest temperatures, averaging about 82°F.
- What is the coldest month in Baton Rouge?
- January is usually the coldest month, averaging about 50°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Baton Rouge?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be planted around the last spring frost (mid-March); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) should wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Baton Rouge get?
- Baton Rouge experiences about 78 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Baton Rouge?
- Baton Rouge's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature; use the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
Baton Rouge, Louisiana experiences a humid subtropical climate zone. January temperatures hover near 50°F while July averages 82°F — a 31°F seasonal swing.
Throughout the year, Baton Rouge receives about 61 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 78 rainy days.
Geography shapes the local weather patterns through latitude (30.4°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation — all factors that influence what grows here, when frost is likely, and daily weather conditions.