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 live radar map above shows precipitation over New Orleans, Louisiana in real time. Blue shades indicate light rain, while yellow, orange, and red mark heavier downpours. If no colored echoes appear over New Orleans, no significant rain is currently being detected.
How often does the New Orleans rain radar update?
The radar refreshes continuously, typically every few minutes, so the map reflects current conditions rather than an hours-old forecast. Press play to animate the most recent frames.
Can I see if a storm is heading toward New Orleans?
Yes. Press play on the radar to animate the last few hours of rainfall and watch which way rain cells over Louisiana are moving – the clearest way to judge whether a shower will reach New Orleans or pass by.
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.