New Orleans woke up to a wall of humidity Sunday morning. By 5:35 a.m. CDT on May 17, 2026, the sky was mostly cloudy, the temperature hovered near 73°F, and the dew point sat around 72°F, which is meteorologist-speak for "you are basically wearing the air." Highs are expected to climb to around 84°F this afternoon as southeast winds pick up.
Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms are on the table after noon, especially along and west of Interstate 55. The National Weather Service pegs rain chances near 30% this afternoon, with a high near 84°F and most spots seeing less than a tenth of an inch. A few slow-moving storms, however, could briefly dump heavier rain. According to the National Weather Service New Orleans, any stronger storms could fire up gusty winds, dangerous lightning and pockets of small hail where updrafts manage to flex a bit.
Afternoon Storms Could Crash Outdoor Plans
Storm odds ramp up from mid-afternoon into early evening, with the best shot for showers and thunderstorms between about noon and sunset across the river parishes, the Atchafalaya Basin and areas west of I-55. Parts of the city east of I-55 are more likely to stay mostly dry, so who grabs the rain and who keeps the sunshine will come down to how those scattered cells decide to line up.
If you are headed to a festival, a second line or a weekend market, it is a good idea to have a quick plan B nearby. A sudden downpour can knock down visibility, slow traffic and send everyone diving for the nearest awning. Expect southeast winds around 5 to 15 mph this afternoon, with some stronger, erratic gusts in and near any beefier storms.
Marine And Nighttime Outlook
Onshore southeast flow will keep the humidity cranked up into the night. Temperatures should only slip into the mid 70s, and there is a slight chance of showers overnight with readings holding fairly steady.
Out on the water, mariners should keep an eye on those exercise-caution headlines as winds increase and seas build a bit. The office’s detailed thinking for coastal and marine interests is laid out in the National Weather Service forecast discussion.
