New Orleans, LA weather in March
In March, New Orleans sees highs around 75°F and lows around 56°F: mild, with some rain. There are about 8 days with rain. Good for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 75°F
- Normal low
- 56°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 4.6 in total
- Muggy days
- 5
- dew point 65°F+
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 72°F | 78°F |
| Normal low | 53°F | 58°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 29% | 25% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:26 am / 5:59 pm | 6:50 am / 7:18 pm |
| Daylight | 11.6 h | 12.5 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 March day
- 6 am60°Fdew point 53°F
- 9 am64°Fdew point 54°F
- Noon68°Fdew point 54°F
- 3 pm70°Fdew point 54°F
- 6 pm67°Fdew point 54°F
- 9 pm64°Fdew point 55°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°F14 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more5 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow8 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in March
Normal precipitation is 4.6 in; a dry March brings about 2.8 in and a wet one about 6.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202020: average high 80°F
- Coolest March2010: average high 68°F
- Wettest March1995: 9.7 in
- Driest March2004: 0.3 in
- Highest reading89°F (March 19, 2015)
- Lowest reading29°F (March 9, 1996)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
March compared with February and April
| February | March | April | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 68°F | 75°F | 81°F |
| Normal low | 51°F | 56°F | 62°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 8 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 12 | 14 | 10 |
| Daylight | 11.1 h | 12.0 h | 12.9 h |
Highs change by +7°F from February and +6°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Cooler: Gulfport, MS65 mi · high 69°F · 8 wet days
How New Orleans ranks in March
- Normal high42nd warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 5 in Louisiana
- Wet days163rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days116th most of 339
What to pack for New Orleans in March
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 8 days
Heating and cooling
March has 93 heating degree days and 97 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 4% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is New Orleans in March?
The normal high is 75°F and the normal low is 56°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest March reading was 89°F (March 19, 2015).
Does it rain a lot in New Orleans in March?
About 8 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.6 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 1995 (9.7 in); the driest was in 2004 (0.3 in).
Is March a good time to visit New Orleans?
March ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for New Orleans (66 out of 100). It has about 14 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).