New Orleans, LA weather in May
Expect hot, oppressively humid weather with some rain in New Orleans in May, with highs near 88°F and lows near 69°F. Rain falls on about 7 days.
- Normal high
- 88°F
- Normal low
- 69°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 4.9 in total
- Muggy days
- 22
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 85°F | 91°F |
| Normal low | 66°F | 73°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 22% | 29% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:17 am / 7:37 pm | 6:00 am / 7:56 pm |
| Daylight | 13.3 h | 13.9 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 May day
- 6 am74°Fdew point 67°F
- 9 am79°Fdew point 67°F
- Noon82°Fdew point 66°F
- 3 pm83°Fdew point 66°F
- 6 pm81°Fdew point 66°F
- 9 pm77°Fdew point 67°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from New Orleans Lakefront Airport (7 mi away); average wind 10 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F2 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more10 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more22 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow7 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 31
Average days per May, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in May
Normal precipitation is 4.9 in; a dry May brings about 1.5 in and a wet one about 6.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202018: average high 91°F
- Coolest May2013: average high 82°F
- Wettest May1995: 21.3 in
- Driest May2000: 0.05 in
- Highest reading97°F (May 17, 2018)
- Lowest reading46°F (May 4, 2013)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
May compared with April and June
| April | May | June | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 81°F | 88°F | 93°F |
| Normal low | 62°F | 69°F | 75°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 7 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| Daylight | 12.9 h | 13.7 h | 14.0 h |
Highs change by +7°F from April and +5°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Cooler: Gulfport, MS65 mi · high 83°F · 7 wet days
How New Orleans ranks in May
- Normal high26th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 5 in Louisiana
- Wet days113th driest of 378
- Comfortable days299th most of 339
What to pack for New Orleans in May
- Light, breathable clothing – highs near 88°F and about 22 muggy days
Heating and cooling
May has 1 heating degree days and 422 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 9% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is New Orleans in May?
The normal high is 88°F and the normal low is 69°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 97°F (most recently on May 17, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in New Orleans in May?
About 7 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.9 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 1995 (21.3 in); the driest was in 2000 (0.05 in).
Is May a good time to visit New Orleans?
May ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for New Orleans (49 out of 100). It has about 2 comfortable days and about 10 days at 90°F or hotter. 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).