New Orleans, LA weather in December
Expect mild weather with frequent rain in New Orleans in December, with highs near 66°F and lows near 49°F. Rain falls on about 10 days. It is one of the coolest months in New Orleans.
- Normal high
- 66°F
- Normal low
- 49°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 4.6 in total
- Muggy days
- 3
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 69°F | 64°F |
| Normal low | 51°F | 47°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 29% | 34% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:38 am / 5:00 pm | 6:55 am / 5:10 pm |
| Daylight | 10.4 h | 10.3 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am54°Fdew point 48°F
- 9 am56°Fdew point 48°F
- Noon60°Fdew point 49°F
- 3 pm62°Fdew point 49°F
- 6 pm59°Fdew point 49°F
- 9 pm57°Fdew point 49°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from New Orleans Lakefront Airport (7 mi away); average wind 11 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F11 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more3 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below1 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 4.6 in; a dry December brings about 2.7 in and a wet one about 5.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.1 in.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 73°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 60°F
- Wettest December2009: 20.6 in
- Driest December2011: 1.4 in
- Highest reading84°F (December 1, 1991)
- Lowest reading27°F (December 20, 1996)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
December compared with November and January
| November | December | January | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 73°F | 66°F | 64°F |
| Normal low | 55°F | 49°F | 47°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 10 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 14 | 11 | 10 |
| Daylight | 10.7 h | 10.3 h | 10.5 h |
Highs change by -7°F from November and -2°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Cooler: Jackson, MS162 mi · high 60°F · 10 wet days
How New Orleans ranks in December
- Normal high58th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 5 in Louisiana
- Wet days226th driest of 378
- Comfortable days60th most of 340
What to pack for New Orleans in December
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 10 days
Heating and cooling
December has 259 heating degree days and 33 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is New Orleans in December?
The normal high is 66°F and the normal low is 49°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 27°F (December 20, 1996).
Does it rain a lot in New Orleans in December?
About 10 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.6 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2009 (20.6 in); the driest was in 2011 (1.4 in).
Does it snow in New Orleans in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 0.1 in.
Is December a good time to visit New Orleans?
December ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for New Orleans (57 out of 100). It has about 11 comfortable days. The best months are March, April and November.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature and frost dates: New Orleans Audubon (USW00012930), 4.2 mi SW of the city center, 20 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall, snow depth and humidity and wind by hour: New Orleans Lakefront Airport (USW00053917), 7.1 mi NNE of the city center, 9 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Louis Armstrong New Orleans Intl Airport (722310-12916), 13 mi WNW of the city center, -3 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).