Empire, LA climate
Empire has warm winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 47°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Empire feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Empire weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 62° | 47° | 5.0" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 47° – 60° |
| February | 65° | 51° | 3.8" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 49° – 67° |
| March | 70° | 55° | 4.6" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 57° – 70° |
| April | 76° | 62° | 4.4" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 64° – 73° |
| May | 82° | 69° | 4.2" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 73° – 78° |
| June | 88° | 75° | 6.0" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 79° – 84° |
| July | 89° | 77° | 7.4" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 81° – 86° |
| August | 89° | 77° | 7.3" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 80° – 86° |
| September | 86° | 74° | 6.3" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 78° – 84° |
| October | 79° | 66° | 3.9" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 69° – 78° |
| November | 71° | 56° | 3.9" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 57° – 68° |
| December | 64° | 50° | 4.4" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 51° – 65° |
| Year | 77° | 63° | 61.0" | 0.0" | 91 | 0 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Empire
Empire gets 61 inches of rain and melted snow a year. July is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 91 days a year.
A year-round growing season
Heating and cooling a home in Empire
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Empire, 26% of that work is heating and 74% is cooling, so air conditioning is the bigger bill.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
Empire and its neighbors
Empire borders 2 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.9°. Port Sulphur has both the coldest January nights (47°) and the hottest July afternoons (89°). Empire’s January low is 47° and its July high 89°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Empire compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Empire averaged 1.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+1.6°). The shift is smaller than in 71% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Empire’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. February swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 49° to 67°. June is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Common questions about Empire’s climate
What is the coldest month in Empire?
January, with a typical high of 62° and a low of 47°.
What is the hottest month in Empire?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 77°. About 34 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Empire get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.0 inches.
When is the first frost in Empire?
Frost is uncommon. Only 76% of years see a night at 32° or below.
What is the rainiest month in Empire?
July, with 7.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 61 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Empire itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Buras, LA (9 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.