Halloween Rain Ends New Orleans' Longest Dry Period in 2024 | Weather

Rain is finally in the forecast after a week-long dry spell that has worsened drought conditions across Louisiana. Unfortunately, it's expected on Halloween.

There is some chance of rain across much of southern Louisiana Wednesday through Friday as a front moves in from the northwest.

Rain chances are best on Halloween afternoon and early evening, according to the National Weather Service in New Orleans. Baton Rouge and other areas west of Interstate 55 are expected to see the highest amounts of precipitation.

There is a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms in New Orleans on Thursday, and storms are expected to move through the city primarily after 1 p.m

Forecasters don't expect major flooding, said Kevin Gilmore, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. There will likely be some scattered showers throughout the afternoon, and aside from a few lingering showers, the situation should largely clear after 6 or 7 p.m., Gilmore said.

“This is definitely one of those cases where it wouldn’t hurt to have an umbrella,” he said.

Despite the bad timing, the rain is necessary. About 73% of the state is experiencing “unusually dry” conditions, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map released Oct. 24. Of that, just over 9% of the state is considered to be in severe drought, including parts of Acadia, Jefferson Davis and Calcasieu parishes.

While Orleans Parish is not among the drought victims, New Orleans has not had rain in 24 days since Monday, Gilmore said. This is the city's longest rainy spell so far this year, Gilmore said, surpassing this summer's 17-day dry spell that ended Aug. 14.

It's not unusual for New Orleans to not get much rain during October, which is historically one of the driest months of the year in the city. The upcoming Halloween rain could be a sign that a new, wetter seasonal shift is coming, Gilmore said.

“If anything,” he said, “a lot of the rain we’re going to get is the kind of rain we need.”