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New Orleans in May: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Planning a trip and want to know what the weather in New Orleans in May will be like? Take a look at our weather guide for New Orleans, based on historical data.
Check flight prices to New Orleans on Avionero:
May

Weather in New Orleans in May 2025

OK Weather
Warm
🌧️
Rainy
🌊
Comfortable water
If you plan to visit New Orleans in May, the weather is typically alright, with an average high temperature of +28°C during the day and approximately 7 sunny days. Expect some rainy, though, as there are typically 16 rainy days in the month and around 312 mm of precipitation. The weather is changeable so you may have to pack for every eventuality. Search flights in one click on Avionero.

Average weather

☀️
+28°C
Avg. max. temperature
+9°C
Min.
+36°C
Max.
312 mm
Total precipitation
76%
Avg. humidity
2 m/s
Avg. wind
7 ☀️
Sunny Days
7 ⛅️
Cloudy
16 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: New Orleans has OK weather in May.

Average temperature in New Orleans in May

Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in New Orleans for May based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The expected average maximum temperature in May is +30°C with a maximum of +34°C and a minimum of +18°C.

The average maximum temperature goes up 25% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +28°C to +32°C.

Is New Orleans warm or cold in May?

New Orleans is typically warm in May.

Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +25°C to +28°C. The minimum temperature also goes up from +17°C to +21°C.

It’s generally warm, but pack a long-sleeve shirt for evenings.

Take a look at how May is compared to other months in New Orleans:

Water temperature in New Orleans in May

Water in New Orleans in May is Comfortable. It varies from +21°C to +28°C, with an average of +24°C. This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +28°C.

In May, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the 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 May?

The water in New Orleans in May is pretty comfortable (+24°C in average). Ideal for swimming, especially in outdoor pools and open water. Suitable for recreational and casual swimmers.
🦭
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
Don’t forget a large beach towel or two for drying off.

Climate in New Orleans in May

New Orleans weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
AprilMayJune
Avg. temperature
+25°C+28°C+31°C
Min. temperature
+4°C+9°C+15°C
Max. temperature
+31°C+36°C+37°C
Rainfall
377 mm312 mm341 mm
Wind
3 m/s2 m/s2 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+21°C+24°C+28°C
Humidity
76%76%78%
Air pressure
1015 HPa1014 HPa1014 HPa
Sunny days
774
Cloudy days
873
Rainy days
141622
Snowy days
000

May weather is still as ok as in April. It’s getting warmer as May arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +25°C to +28°C during the day. As May arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 377 mm to 312 mm. Humidity levels don’t change as the month goes on, averaging around 76%. Winds are calmer in comparison to April, going down from 3 m/s to 2 m/s on average. The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 7 sunny days during the month.

June brings much the same weather, it remains ok.

Wind

Wind speed in New Orleans in May based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The average wind speed is 2 m/s getting up to 4 m/s which is a light breeze; barely moving the tree leaves.

The average wind speed in New Orleans is gradually decreasing during May, going from 2 m/s to 1 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during May in New Orleans based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 71% chance of rain on an average day in May, with total rainfall of approximately 319 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 98 mm, which is considered heavy rain. May is a pretty wet month with over 22 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of galoshes.
Here’s how May 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 May in New Orleans?

This is the weather in New Orleans in May 2023:
1 May
☀️
+28°C
2 May
☀️
+28°C
3 May
☀️
+30°C
4 May
☀️
+29°C
5 May
☁️
+29°C
6 May
☁️
+27°C
7 May
☁️
+29°C
8 May
☁️
+29°C
9 May
☁️
+28°C
10 May
☁️
+29°C
11 May
☁️
+30°C
12 May
☁️
+31°C
13 May
☁️
+31°C
14 May
☀️
+32°C
15 May
☀️
+34°C
16 May
☀️
+32°C
17 May
☁️
+30°C
18 May
☀️
+31°C
19 May
☁️
+31°C
20 May
☁️
+33°C
21 May
☁️
+31°C
22 May
☁️
+30°C
23 May
☁️
+30°C
24 May
☁️
+29°C
25 May
☁️
+28°C
26 May
☁️
+30°C
27 May
☀️
+27°C
28 May
☁️
+29°C
29 May
☁️
+29°C
30 May
☁️
+28°C
31 May
☁️
+32°C
In May 2023 New Orleans had 9 sunny days, 22 cloudy days, and 0 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +30°C, with an absolute maximum of +34°C and a minimum of +27°C. The average humidity was 77%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 42%. The average wind speed was 2 m/s, with a maximum of 10 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?

Climate Change over Years

This is how New Orleans climate have been changing during last 43 years period.

The climate in New Orleans in May 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 May:

Is May a good time to visit New Orleans?

It’s always a good time to visit New Orleans, but the weather is changeable in May, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.

Can you sunbathe in New Orleans in May?

May is warm in New Orleans. You may enjoy some beach or pool time in the day, but pack something a tad warmer for the evening.

Can you swim in New Orleans in May?

Yes, the water temperature in New Orleans in May is considered moderate and enjoyable for most people, averaging around +24°C.

Is New Orleans rainy in May?

New Orleans is often rainy in May. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.

Is it sunny in New Orleans in May?

Usually, it’s not very sunny in New Orleans in May, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.

Other cities in USA

Check out the weather for other cities in USA.

Monthly weather in New Orleans

Source of the data

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.