New Orleans gets roughly 1,600 mm (about 64 inches) of rain a year, among the highest totals of any major U.S. city, and much of it sits below sea level protected by an extensive levee and pumping system. That combination makes the city especially sensitive to both hurricane storm surge and the sheer volume of rain a tropical system can dump in a short window, a risk underscored by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Summer afternoons regularly bring intense, fast-building thunderstorms off the warm Gulf waters, and street flooding can happen well before a storm reaches hurricane strength. Because the pumping system has finite capacity, how quickly rain falls matters as much as how much falls, which is exactly what radar imagery shows in real time. Local forecasters lean on the region’s Doppler radar coverage to track storm bands as they move onshore and to give residents an early read on developing tropical systems.
Learn more: Hurricane Season Radar Guide · Open the full Rain Map
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it raining in New Orleans right now?
The map above shows recent radar observations over New Orleans, Louisiana where coverage is available. Use the map legend and timestamp to interpret the imagery. A blank map over New Orleans can mean no detected precipitation, missing coverage, delayed data, or rain too light for radar to detect.
How often does the New Orleans rain radar update?
Updates depend on the radar provider and local network. Check the timestamp on the map for the latest available frame, and press play to compare recent observations. Radar imagery can lag conditions on the ground.
Can I see if a storm is heading toward New Orleans?
Press play to compare recent radar frames over Louisiana and see the direction of detected rain. This can help you assess approaching showers near New Orleans, but storms can grow or change direction; check your local weather service for forecasts and warnings.
Is this New Orleans rain radar free to use?
Yes, completely free – no account, app download, or sign-up required. It works in any browser on desktop and mobile.