New Orleans weather in May
New Orleans in May averages 25°C (77°F) and 143 mm of rain.
Of the twelve months in New Orleans, May is the fifth warmest and the fourth wettest.
- Average temp
- 25°C (77°F)
20–30°C · 68–85°F
- Rainfall
- 143 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- —
- Wind
- 13 km/h
What is New Orleans like in May?
Daytime
Days are warm, typically in the mid-20s°C or above.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings stay warm.
What should I pack for New Orleans in May?
Loose cotton or linen
Synthetics stop working once you are sweating through them all day.
A refillable water bottle
Daily highs this warm need roughly double the water a temperate day does.
A light rain jacket
About 143 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
May compared with April and June
May in New Orleans is 3.9°C warmer than April and 11 mm wetter than it, which averages 21°C (70°F).
May in New Orleans is 2.9°C cooler than June and 51 mm drier than it, which averages 28°C (82°F).
Daylight in New Orleans in May
On 15 May the sun is up for 13 hours 40 minutes in New Orleans, rising about 06:06 and setting about 19:47 local time.
May ends 36 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
Where to stay in New Orleans
Dates are a starting point for May.
Travel guides for New Orleans
What to read before you book.
New Orleans weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How May compares with the rest of the year
May 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 |
Similar weather in May
Other destinations whose May averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
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FAQs about New Orleans in May
May climate averages for New Orleans, 1991–2020.
New Orleans averages 25°C (77°F) in May, ranging from about 20°C (68°F) at night to 30°C (85°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 143 mm falls across May, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
No. May averages 25°C (77°F) against 28°C (82°F) in June — 2.9°C cooler.
May is 3.9°C warmer than April, and 11 mm wetter.
Yes. May falls inside the most comfortable stretch of the year here, March to May, on temperature and rainfall together.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what May is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 13 hours 40 minutes of daylight in mid-May, against 14 hours 4 minutes in June and 10 hours 14 minutes in December.
On 15 May, sunrise is about 06:06 and sunset about 19:47 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 36 minutes longer than it starts.
