New Orleans (LA) Monthly Rainfall & Precipitation

This page shows both the average monthly rainfall and the number of rainy days in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America. The numbers reflect climate data gathered over a 30-year period, from 1990 to 2020. Let's now guide you through the details for a complete overview.

New Orleans has a notably wet climate with abundant precipitation, recording 1664 mm (66 in) of rainfall per year.

Monthly Precipitation Levels

The average number of days each month with precipitation (> 0.2 mm (0.01 in))

The seasons in New Orleans, bring significant changes in precipitation. The wettest month, August, receives heavy rainfall, with an average of 219 mm (8.6 in) of precipitation. This rainfall is distributed across 19 rainy days.

August, the wettest month, has a maximum daytime temperature of 33°C (91°F). The city receives 251 hours of sunshine in this period. During the driest month November you can expect a temperature of 21°C (70°F). For more detailed insights into the city's temperatures, visit our New Orleans Temperature page.

New Orleans's average annual precipitation is 1664 mm (66 in). Let's compare this to some popular worldwide tourist destinations:

In Barcelona, Spain, the average annual precipitation is 620 mm (24 in), evenly distributed across the year with no extreme wet or dry seasons.

Meanwhile, Buenos Aires, Argentina, enjoys a humid subtropical climate with 1000 mm (39 in) of annual rainfall, mostly in the summer.

In Tokyo, Japan, the average annual precipitation is 1528 mm (60 in), with significant summer rains due to typhoon season.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, receives 2529 mm (100 in) of annual rainfall, characteristic of its equatorial tropical rainforest climate, with consistent rainfall throughout the year and peak months during March and November.

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.

Climate change is affecting precipitation patterns worldwide, including New Orleans (LA):

• Changing Rainfall Patterns: Global warming causes drastic changes in the patterns of rainfall. Some areas have been experiencing increased frequency and intensity of rainfall, while other areas experience longer dry spells or even droughts.
• Local Impacts: Many regions are experiencing heavier rainfall in the winter months and drier, hotter summers. This affects agriculture, water resources, and ecosystems.

• Mawsynram in India is noted as being the wettest place on earth, with over 11 meters (36 feet) of rain falling every year.
• In contrast, Antofagasta in Chile is among the driest places on the planet, getting less than 0.1mm (0.004 inches) per year, with some years recording virtually no rainfall.
• Nearly 1,650 thunderstorm cells are estimated over the planet at any given time.

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.