Quick Answer
March through May is the prime window for New Orleans - warm enough for outdoor dining and live music on Frenchmen Street, dry enough to explore the Garden District on foot, and culturally rich with the Jazz and Heritage Festival running late April through early May. Mardi Gras (February) is worth planning a trip around if you know what you’re getting into. See our New Orleans city guide for the full guide. Book accommodation via our hotel search early for any festival period.
Season Overview
| Month | Avg Temp | Rainfall | Crowds | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14°C | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| February | 16°C | Medium | Very High | Very High |
| March | 19°C | Medium | High | High |
| April | 23°C | Medium | Very High | Very High |
| May | 27°C | Medium | High | High |
| June | 31°C | High | Medium | Medium |
| July | 33°C | High | Low | Low-Medium |
| August | 33°C | High | Low | Low |
| September | 30°C | High | Low | Low |
| October | 24°C | Low | High | High |
| November | 19°C | Low | Medium | Medium |
| December | 15°C | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Peak Season: February (Mardi Gras) and April (Jazz Fest)
Mardi Gras is the defining event of the New Orleans calendar. The carnival season technically begins January 6 (Epiphany) and builds to Fat Tuesday - the date shifts each year based on Easter but typically falls in February. The final week is extraordinary: parades roll along St. Charles Avenue, the French Quarter becomes impassable by afternoon, and hotels charge three to five times normal rates. Book six months in advance for a decent room anywhere near the action.
The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (Jazz Fest) runs across two consecutive weekends in late April and early May. It attracts 400,000–500,000 people and is one of the finest music festivals in the world, mixing jazz, gospel, blues, R&B, and Cajun music across multiple stages at the Fair Grounds. Accommodation during Jazz Fest is nearly as competitive as Mardi Gras.
Shoulder Season: March and October–November
March is the sweet spot between Mardi Gras chaos and the summer heat wall. The St. Patrick’s Day parade (March 17) and St. Joseph’s Day (March 19) add color without overwhelming the city. Temperatures at 18–22°C make walking the Garden District, Magazine Street, and the French Market genuinely pleasant.
October brings dry, comfortable weather (22–26°C) and a different but equally rich event calendar. Voodoo Fest (late October) draws major music acts to City Park. Halloween in New Orleans is celebrated extravagantly - the French Quarter on October 31 has a costume culture that rivals Mardi Gras in creativity.
Off Season: June–September
Summer in New Orleans is a serious undertaking. The combination of 32–34°C heat and near-100% humidity produces heat indexes that regularly exceed 40°C. Afternoon thunderstorms, sometimes severe, are daily occurrences from June onward. Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1–November 30, with August and September posing the greatest risk.
The upside: the city is uncrowded, locals are hospitable, and prices are dramatically lower. Many of the city’s best restaurants run summer specials. The music scene on Frenchmen Street operates year-round regardless of heat.
Month-by-Month Guide
| Month | Weather | Crowds | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14°C, mild | Medium | Medium | Twelfth Night, Sugar Bowl, carnival begins |
| February | 16°C, mild | Very High | Very High | Mardi Gras (date varies), king cake season |
| March | 19°C, pleasant | High | High | St. Patrick’s Day, St. Joseph’s Day |
| April | 23°C, warm | Very High | Very High | Jazz Fest (late April), French Quarter Fest |
| May | 27°C, warming | High | High | Jazz Fest concludes (early May) |
| June | 31°C, hot | Medium | Medium | Hurricane season begins, outdoor dining suffers |
| July | 33°C, very hot | Low | Low-Medium | Independence Day, heat index 40°C+ |
| August | 33°C, hottest | Low | Low | Peak hurricane risk |
| September | 30°C, still hot | Low | Low | Hurricane season easing by late September |
| October | 24°C, comfortable | High | High | Voodoo Fest, Halloween celebrations |
| November | 19°C, pleasant | Medium | Medium | Bayou Classic (football), cooler evenings |
| December | 15°C, cool | Medium | Medium | Christmas bonfire tradition on River Road |
Key Events and Festivals
- Mardi Gras - February (date varies), the city’s defining annual event
- French Quarter Festival - April, free outdoor music across 20 stages
- New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival - late April/early May, Fair Grounds Race Course
- Voodoo Fest - late October, City Park, major music festival
- Halloween in the French Quarter - October 31, spectacular costume culture
- Sugar Bowl - January 1, Caesars Superdome, college football postseason game
Plan Your Trip
✈️ Book your flights to the USA 🎫 Find tours in New Orleans 🛡️ Get travel insurance 📱 Stay connected with an eSIM 🚗 Rent a car