New Orleans (LA) Rainfall & Precipitation: Monthly Averages and Year-Round Insights

This page shows the average amount of rainfall per month in New Orleans (LA). The numbers are calculated over a 30-year period to provide a reliable average. Let's now guide you through the details for a complete overview.

New Orleans experiences significant rainfall throughout the year, averaging 1664 mm of precipitation annually.

Monthly Precipitation Levels

The average number of days each month with precipitation (> 0.2 mm)

Significant seasonal changes in precipitation occur throughout the year. During the wet season, August receives substantial rainfall, averaging 219 mm of precipitation, recorded across 19 rainy days.

In contrast, the drier season, November brings less rainfall, with 67 mm over 6 rainy days.

August, the city’s wettest month, has a maximum daytime temperature of 33°C. During the driest month November you can expect a temperature of 21°C. For more detailed insights into the city’s temperatures, visit our New Orleans Temperature page.

Annual Precipitation in the United States of America

The map below shows the annual precipitation across the United States of America. You can also select the different months in case you are interested in a specific month.

Amsterdam Precipitation Compared World Wide

New Orleans’s average annual precipitation is 1664 mm. Let’s compare this to some popular worldwide tourist destinations:

The climate in San Francisco, USA, is influenced by coastal weather, with 469 mm of rainfall mostly during the winter months.

Meanwhile, Buenos Aires, Argentina, enjoys a humid subtropical climate with 1000 mm of annual rainfall, mostly in the summer.

In Tokyo, Japan, the average annual precipitation is 1528 mm, with significant summer rains due to typhoon season.

Bangkok, Thailand, experiences a tropical monsoon climate with 1668 mm of annual rainfall, with the heaviest precipitation occurring during September and October.

How is Precipitation Measured?

Precipitation amounts are measured using specific gauges installed at weather stations, collecting both rain and snow and any other type of precipitation. Rainfall is measured directly in millimeters, while that from snow and ice is obtained by melting it. Automated systems often incorporate heaters to make this easier.

Information from these stations is transmitted via Wi-Fi, satellite, GPS, or telephone connections to central monitoring networks. This information is immediately updated and integrated into weather models and forecasts.

Interesting weather facts

• The U.S. has a significant number of thunderstorms every year, with over 14.6 million taking place across the world annually.
• Approximately 70% of lightning bolts strike land rather than oceans.
• A storm named John was the longest-lasting Pacific tropical storm, continuing for 31 days. As it crossed the dateline twice, it changed status from a hurricane to a typhoon and back to a hurricane.

For more detailed information about New Orleans (LA)’s weather, including sunshine hours, humidity levels, and temperature data, visit our New Orleans (LA) Climate page.