New Orleans Weather Radar
New Orleans Live Weather
New Orleans Live Weather Radar
New Orleans Hourly Weather Forecast
New Orleans 7-Day Weather Forecast
New Orleans Weather Overview
New Orleans sits in a bowl below sea level between Lake Pontchartrain and the Gulf of Mexico, where 64 inches of annual rain meets gravity working against the city. The humid-subtropical climate brings oppressive summer heat, but weather here is defined by water — too much of it, arriving too fast. Checking the New Orleans weather radar isn't casual planning; it's survival infrastructure in a city where storms kill.
Hurricane season runs June through November with catastrophic history. Katrina (2005) flooded 80% of the city when levees failed, killing 1,392 and causing $125 billion in damage. Ida (2021) made landfall as a Category 4 with 150 mph winds. Between major hurricanes, the New Orleans weather radar tracks flash flooding from slow thunderstorms that overwhelm pump systems designed to push water uphill. When rainfall exceeds two inches per hour, streets in Lakeview and Gentilly become impassable in minutes.
Severe thunderstorms bring damaging winds year-round, peaking in spring and summer. Tornadoes strike about five times annually, often embedded in hurricane rain bands. Live New Orleans weather radar shows rotation signatures before warnings are issued — critical minutes for taking shelter. Winter is mild with just 0.2 inches of average snowfall, though rare freezes damage infrastructure. Temperatures range from 7°F (1899) to 102°F (1980), but heat and water define the threat landscape.
New Orleans Weather Risks & Safety
Hurricane & Tropical Storm Risk
New Orleans sits in the path of Atlantic and Gulf tropical systems. Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, peaking in August and September when warm sea surface temperatures fuel rapid intensification. On the radar, you can track the eye wall, rain bands, and embedded tornadoes as a storm approaches. If you live in New Orleans, keep your evacuation plan current and check the radar frequently once a tropical advisory is issued.
Flooding & Flash Flood Risk
Flash flooding is New Orleans's most persistent weather hazard. Slow-moving thunderstorms or tropical moisture can dump enough rain to overwhelm drainage systems within hours — especially in paved urban areas where water has nowhere to go. Check the radar to see where the heaviest rain is falling and which areas to avoid. The standing rule: turn around, don't drown. Never drive through flooded roads, even if they look shallow.
Severe Thunderstorm Risk
Severe thunderstorms roll through New Orleans regularly, especially spring through early fall. Expect damaging winds above 58 mph, large hail, and dangerous lightning. The radar shows you each storm cell's position, movement, and intensity — so you can tell if one is headed your way. When a thunderstorm warning drops for New Orleans, get indoors and away from windows until it passes.
How to Use New Orleans Weather Radar
Check Current New Orleans Weather
Start by viewing the real-time weather status at the top of the New Orleans radar page. This shows current temperature, wind speed, humidity, and conditions — critical data when tropical systems or heavy rainfall threaten the city below sea level.
View the Live Radar Map
The animated radar map displays precipitation intensity and storm movement across New Orleans and the greater metro area. Toggle between standard radar view and satellite imagery to track hurricane rain bands, embedded thunderstorms, and flooding rainfall over Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River delta.
Read the Hourly Forecast
Scroll down to see hour-by-hour predictions for temperature, precipitation probability, and wind. During hurricane season (June 1 through November 30), hourly updates help you time evacuations or prepare for storm surge and flooding as systems approach the Louisiana coast.
Check the 7-Day Outlook
The extended forecast shows whether tropical disturbances in the Gulf of Mexico may develop into threats for New Orleans. Long-range outlooks are essential for planning evacuations, securing property, and monitoring the approach of major hurricanes like Katrina or Ida.
Who Benefits from New Orleans Weather Radar
Commuters & Drivers
New Orleans commuters on I-10, I-610, and the Crescent City Connection can check the radar before rush hour to avoid flooded underpasses and highway closures. Flash flooding hits the city fast — knowing where heavy rain is falling helps you reroute around standing water on Claiborne Avenue or Tulane Avenue.
Outdoor Enthusiasts
Visitors to City Park, Audubon Park, or the French Quarter can use the radar to time outdoor activities around afternoon thunderstorms. Summer rain often arrives with little warning — a quick radar check helps you avoid getting caught in a downpour along the Moonwalk or at Jackson Square.
Event Planners & Families
Outdoor events at the Smoothie King Center, Tad Gormley Stadium, or festivals in Armstrong Park depend on accurate weather data. Event organizers use the radar to make real-time decisions about lightning delays, evacuations, or cancellations when severe storms or tropical systems approach the city.
Outdoor Workers
Construction crews, port workers at the Port of New Orleans, and oil and gas workers in the region rely on radar to monitor approaching hurricanes and severe thunderstorms. The city's energy and shipping industries shut down ahead of major storms — radar timing determines when operations must cease and when it's safe to resume.