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Dog Days of Summer

© G. L. Tyrrell

As we approach the "Dog Days of Summer" and the August heat settles over New Orleans I receive many questions about visiting the French Quarter and New Orleans during the summer - "It seems like it is just too hot to visit New Orleans in the summer, is there anything happening this time of year?", "Do people really visit this time of year?", "With hurricane season reaching its' peak is it safe to visit New Orleans?"...

When I first moved to the French Quarter many businesses would close during the summer for vacations, remodeling, or just because summer was a slow period for tourists. Over the years however more and more people discovered that summer in New Orleans offered more than just heat, humidity, and the occasional tropical storm or hurricane. Some hotels began offering summer discounts and as the convention center expanded visitors, trade shows, meetings and conventions began making summer in New Orleans work for them.

Visiting New Orleans in August does present some challenges - The average high temperature is 90.2°F and when you factor in the humidity the heat index readings (the way the combination of temperature and humidity feels to the average person) can run from the low 100s to well over 110° and can cause health problems. For more on this read "In the Heat of Summer" for some tips on avoiding heat stress problems.

So, when packing be sure to include your shorts and other "cool" clothes and don't forget your sun screen! I also always recommend that everyone pack a poncho. Umbrellas on the narrow streets and sidewalks of the French Quarter can be a real pain, especially in crowds, and are easily misplaced in restaurants and clubs. Ponchos can be easily packed in a bag, backpack, or fanny pack, some small ones can even be carried in a pocket. Summer showers and thunderstorms in New Orleans can pop up very quickly and produce a surprising amount of rain in a very short time. Rainfall amounts of over 2" per hour are not uncommon. The average rainfall for August is 6.17" over 13.1 days.

As for tropical storms and hurricanes New Orleans is susceptible and has experienced many storms in the past. Whenever you travel to any place that hurricanes are possible you should include that possibility in your plans. See "Hurricanes and Tropical Storms Could Alter Your Plans" for more tips on what to do.

The copyright of the article Dog Days of Summer in French Quarter is owned by G. L. Tyrrell. Permission to republish Dog Days of Summer in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.