New Orleans weather in January
New Orleans in January averages 12°C (54°F) and 132 mm of rain.
Of the twelve months in New Orleans, January is the coldest.
- Average temp
- 12°C (54°F)
7–17°C · 45–63°F
- Rainfall
- 132 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- —
- Wind
- 15 km/h
What is New Orleans like in January?
Daytime
Days are cool.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for New Orleans in January?
A light rain jacket
About 132 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 7°C (45°F).
January compared with December and February
January in New Orleans is 1.4°C cooler than December and about as wet as it, which averages 14°C (56°F).
January in New Orleans is 2.1°C cooler than February and 27 mm wetter than it, which averages 14°C (58°F).
Daylight in New Orleans in January
On 15 January the sun is up for 10 hours 26 minutes in New Orleans, rising about 06:56 and setting about 17:22 local time.
January ends 29 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 3 hours 38 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in New Orleans
Dates are a starting point for January.
Travel guides for New Orleans
What to read before you book.
New Orleans weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How January compares with the rest of the year
January is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 12°C / 54°F | 132 mm |
| February | 14°C / 58°F | 104 mm |
| March | 18°C / 64°F | 111 mm |
| April | 21°C / 70°F | 132 mm |
| May | 25°C / 77°F | 143 mm |
| June | 28°C / 82°F | 194 mm |
| July | 29°C / 83°F | 169 mm |
| August | 29°C / 83°F | 180 mm |
| September | 27°C / 81°F | 128 mm |
| October | 22°C / 72°F | 94 mm |
| November | 17°C / 62°F | 98 mm |
| December | 14°C / 56°F | 123 mm |
Check another month
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FAQs about New Orleans in January
January climate averages for New Orleans, 1991–2020.
New Orleans averages 12°C (54°F) in January, ranging from about 7°C (45°F) at night to 17°C (63°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 132 mm falls across January, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
No. January averages 12°C (54°F) against 14°C (58°F) in February — 2.1°C cooler.
January is 1.4°C cooler than December, and about as wet.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is March to May; January sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what January is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 10 hours 26 minutes of daylight in mid-January, against 14 hours 4 minutes in June and 10 hours 14 minutes in December.
On 15 January, sunrise is about 06:56 and sunset about 17:22 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 29 minutes longer than it starts.
