If you plan to visit New Orleans in December, the weather is typically alright, with an average high temperature of +18°C during the day and approximately 7 sunny days. Expect some rainy, though, as there are typically 14 rainy days in the month and around 107 mm of precipitation. The weather is changeable so you may have to pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Average weather
☀️
+18°C
Avg. max. temperature
-10°C
Min.
+28°C
Max.
107 mm
Total precipitation
78%
Avg. humidity
3 m/s
Avg. wind
7 ☀️
Sunny Days
10 ⛅️
Cloudy
14 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: New Orleans has OK weather in December.
Average temperature in New Orleans in December
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in New Orleans for December based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The expected average maximum temperature in December is +18°C with a maximum of +27°C and a minimum of +3°C.
The average maximum temperature goes down 29% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +25°C to +18°C.
Is New Orleans warm or cold in December?
New Orleans is typically mild in December.
Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +21°C to +18°C. The minimum temperature also goes down from +14°C to +11°C.
Pack a light jacket as it will be warm in the day and cool in the evenings.
December is one of the coolest months in New Orleans, here is the comparison with other months:
Water temperature in New Orleans in December
Water in New Orleans in December is Cold. It varies from +13°C to +17°C, with an average of +15°C.This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +18°C.
The water temperature in December is one of the coldest of the entire year:
The warmest water temperatures in New Orleans are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +30°C. The coldest water temperatures are in January, with an average of +13°C.
Can you swim in New Orleans in December?
We would not recommend swimming in New Orleans in December, the water is very cold (+15°C on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +16°C
🏄♂️
Fresh
16°C - 21°C
🏊
Comfortable
21°C - 25°C
👙
Warm
25°C - 28°C
🔥
Very warm
+28°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.
Climate in New Orleans in December
New Orleans weather looks like this, on average, in December and the surrounding months.
November
December
January
Avg. temperature
+21°C
+18°C
+17°C
Min. temperature
-1°C
-10°C
-10°C
Max. temperature
+29°C
+28°C
+27°C
Rainfall
87 mm
107 mm
246 mm
Wind
2 m/s
3 m/s
3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+20°C
+15°C
+13°C
Humidity
77%
78%
77%
Air pressure
1018 HPa
1019 HPa
1020 HPa
Sunny days
10
7
7
Cloudy days
8
10
10
Rainy days
12
14
14
Snowy days
0
0
0
December weather is still as ok as in November.It’s getting colder in December. From +21°C in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +18°C.Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 87 mm to 107 mm.Humidity rises from 77% to 78%.Winds are stronger in comparison to November, going up from 2 m/s to 3 m/s on average.The days becoming less sunny, going from 10 sunny days in November to 7 in December.
January brings much the same weather, it remains ok.
Wind speed in New Orleans in December based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 2 m/s getting up to 5 m/s which is a light breeze; barely moving the tree leaves.
The average wind speed in New Orleans is gradually decreasing during December, going from 2 m/s to 1 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during December in New Orleans based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 29% chance of rain on an average day in December, with total rainfall of approximately 282 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 136 mm, which is considered heavy rain.On average, there are about 9 rainy days during December, so prepare to bring an umbrella.
Here’s how December is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
New Orleans wettest month is March, where a typical day has a 48% chance of precipitation and 390 mm of rainfall per day. November, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 40% chance of precipitation and 87 mm of rainfall per day.
How was the weather last December in New Orleans?
This is the weather in New Orleans in December 2023:
1 December
🌧️
+25°C
2 December
🌧️
+23°C
3 December
☁️
+22°C
4 December
☁️
+19°C
5 December
☁️
+17°C
6 December
☁️
+15°C
7 December
☁️
+17°C
8 December
☁️
+22°C
9 December
☀️
+27°C
10 December
☀️
+23°C
11 December
☀️
+15°C
12 December
☁️
+15°C
13 December
☁️
+16°C
14 December
☁️
+16°C
15 December
☁️
+17°C
16 December
☁️
+17°C
17 December
☁️
+16°C
18 December
☀️
+18°C
19 December
☀️
+16°C
20 December
☁️
+17°C
21 December
☁️
+17°C
22 December
☁️
+19°C
23 December
☁️
+22°C
24 December
🌧️
+18°C
25 December
☁️
+19°C
26 December
☁️
+15°C
27 December
☁️
+17°C
28 December
☀️
+14°C
29 December
☀️
+11°C
30 December
☀️
+14°C
31 December
☀️
+18°C
In December 2023 New Orleans had 9 sunny days, 19 cloudy days, and 3 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +18°C, with an absolute maximum of +27°C and a minimum of +11°C. The average humidity was 75%, with a maximum of 99% and a minimum of 37%. The average wind speed was 2 m/s, with a maximum of 8 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in December?
Climate Change over Years
This is how New Orleans climate have been changing during last 43 years period.
The climate in New Orleans in December has not changed much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1983 (+23°C) and the highest in 2023 (+27°C). The driest year was 2000 with only 955 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2022 with 58691 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in New Orleans in December:
Is December a good time to visit New Orleans?
It’s always a good time to visit New Orleans, but the weather is changeable in December, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.
Can you sunbathe in New Orleans in December?
December has mild temperatures in New Orleans. Not ideal for sunbathing, but still good for daytime outdoor activities, but plan for cool evenings. Pack a light jacket and shorts!
Can you swim in New Orleans in December?
Swimming in New Orleans in December is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is New Orleans rainy in December?
New Orleans is often rainy in December. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in New Orleans in December?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in New Orleans in December, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in New Orleans, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2022.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.
