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Weather Overview for New Orleans

New Orleans is a port city on the Mississippi in the Deep South state of Louisiana. The city enjoys a humid sub-tropical climate, similar to northern Florida. Hot, humid summers and very mild winters are accompanied by relatively high rainfall all year. The city is very susceptible to hurricanes and is one of the three areas most likely to be hit in the USA. Hurricane season lasts from June till November but a hit is only very likely during the peak of the season in August and September. Severe weather also causes flooding

Summer, from June till September, is uncomfortably hot and humid. The average high temperature idles in the low 30s and rainfall is at its highest. However, sunshine is also at its highest levels as rain usually falls in short but heavy thunderstorms. Night times are sticky as temperatures remain high in the mid 20s. From June the hurricane season starts and as summer progresses the chance of a hurricane increases. Travelling to New Orleans in late summer should be pre-empted by some research into hurricane activity in the area as a hit to the city can be devastating. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused widespread destruction and loss of life; New Orleans was the city hardest hit by the storm.

Autumn, in October and November, is much more pleasant as rainfall and humidity abate. The period of greatest threat from hurricanes passes with the end of summer, and rainfall falls to its lowest levels. Temperatures are much more pleasant, October seeing an average high of 26°C and November seeing one of 21°C. Night times cool off considerably to an average low of 18°C in October and actually get quite chilly in November at around 13°C.

Winter, from December till February, is incredibly mild. The average high temperature falls to its lowest of 17°C in January when the average low is 8°C. Temperatures do fall down to freezing a few times during the winter but snow is very rare. It is often overcast and the sun shines for around five hours per day. Rainfall increases again to the normal, high levels around 100 mm per month.

Spring, from March till May, is warmer than many British summers. The average high temperature rises to 22°C in March, 25°C in April and 28°C in May. Night times go from being cold to refreshingly cool, rainfall levels barely change and the sun comes out for longer and longer. This is a great time to visit the city as it is before hurricane season and enjoys such moderate temperatures.

New Orleans owes its climate to its position on the Gulf of Mexico, the almost surrounding water and its flat, low-lying topography. Water surrounding the city prevents the city from getting even hotter in the summer or cooler in the winter. The abundance of warm water in the Gulf of Mexico is also fuel for Atlantic hurricanes. The city’s flat topography presents no barrier to winds and the fact that fifty percent of the city has sunk below sea level, having been built mostly on soft sand and silt, makes flooding hard to prevent.