Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Gretna, Louisiana Weather

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon. Day 15 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Gretna weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Gretna, LA
Sunday, July 5 at 2:46 AM
78
°
Overcast
Feels like
86°
Humidity
89%
Wind
4 mph
Sunrise
1:04 AM
Sunset
3:04 PM
Gretna, LA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastGretna, LA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 75 to 94 degrees Fahrenheit with a 35% chance of precipitation at 6 PM.
L 75°H 94°
Gretna, LA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 5
    Light Showers
    35%
    0.48″
    94°75°
  2. Monday
    Jul 6
    Overcast
    47%
    89°74°-5°
  3. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Thunderstorm
    63%
    95°79°+6°
  4. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Light Drizzle
    42%
    96°79°+1°
  5. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Overcast
    31%
    99°80°+3°
  6. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    26%
    98°80°-1°
  7. Saturday
    Jul 11
    Thunderstorm
    38%
    89°80°-9°
Gretna, LA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SW
234° · backing 15°
Direction
SW
234°
Sustained
4
mph
Gust
9
mph
Peak 24h
13
avg 4
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 4 · pk 13 @ 8:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 182SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze backing 15° from the sw.
Gretna, LA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1014.5
-0.7 mb in 3h · falling · 29.96 inHg
Now
1014.5
mb
3h
-0.7
mb
12h
-1.5
mb
24h
-1.1
mb
Regime · CHANGE
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 10141018
1010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1017.51014.21014.6
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Air sits at the threshold — small shifts decide the day.
Gretna, LA
Air quality
65
AQI
Moderate
-47 in 6h

AQI 65 (Moderate), driven by PM2.5. AQI down 47 over the last 6 hours — air quality is improving sharply. PM2.5 at 13.6 µg/m³ (AQI 59) with a 0.93 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERModerate
13.6μg/m³
PM 10Good
15μg/m³
NO₂Good
13μg/m³
OzoneModerate
100μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.0

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 47. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~78%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

Present
AQI 47
UV peak
3.3 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 10

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 13.6 µg/m³ (AQI 59) with a 0.93 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.93
Wind
calm
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke
Gretna, LA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
98%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow

Visibility
32.0mi
UNLIMITED
70 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
07:46 UTC · Gretna, LA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
07:46 UTC · Gretna, LA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Gretna, LA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Gretna, LA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Gretna, LA
Almanac · Sunday, July 5
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:38 AM
Sunrise
1:04 AM
Daylight
14h 00m
Sunset
3:04 PM
Civil dusk
8:33 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Gretna, LA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
75% illuminated
Moonrise
11:12 PM
Moonset
11:15 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Gretna, LA
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Gretna at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 4°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: February 14 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 70053, 70056

15-Day Forecast — Gretna

  1. Sun94°74°35%
  2. Mon89°74°47%
  3. Tue95°79°63%
  4. Wed96°79°42%
  5. Thu99°80°31%
  6. Fri98°80°26%
  7. Sat89°80°38%
  8. Sun80°76°55%
  9. Mon86°74°47%
  10. Tue93°76°31%
  11. Wed93°79°17%
  12. Thu93°78°29%
  13. Fri95°76°35%
  14. Sat89°77°45%
  15. Sun89°77°45%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 5, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Gretna

SPC includes Gretna in the general thunderstorm area today — no severe risk, but storms are possible.

  • TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its Return.December 26–31: The Year Turns in Silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coastMay 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

Dog-day cicadas emerge in waves, their rasp dominating every sunny hour; heat peaks above 90 degrees daily.

Day 186 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January
Februarylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes
Marchlettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash
Apriltomatoes, peppers, beans, squash
Maytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junelettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, beans, summer squash
Augusttomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septembertomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
Novemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots
December

A year in weather

July is Gretna's warmest stretch (~82°F) and January its coldest (~54°F); precipitation crests in August at 6.2 inches and ebbs in October to 1.9 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January54°5.019
February56°4.516
March62°5.018
April69°4.016
May76°2.815
June81°4.617
July82°4.921
August82°6.224
September79°4.818
October72°1.910
November63°3.314
December57°4.317

Regional context

Drawing on NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Gretna's January averages 54°F and July 82°F — 28°F apart — while precipitation totals roughly 51.1 inches over some 205 days.

Gretna's precipitation spreads evenly: August peaks at 6.2 inches on 23.7 wet days, while October holds 1.9 inches over 10.0 — no month dominates Gretna's rain calendar. That even rhythm groups Gretna with places like Terrytown, LA, Harvey, LA and Timberlane, LA.

Gretna rarely sees a hard freeze — its coldest month sits near 54°F — so planting spans most of the calendar. Heat peaks in July around 82°F, which confines cool-season crops to the shoulders of summer. Across Gretna, elevation and tree cover drive a 4-7°F spread in Gretna's overnight lows.

Similar climates: Terrytown, LA, Harvey, LA, Timberlane, LA, Marrero, LA, Woodmere, LA.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Gretna?
Frost typically leaves Gretna by mid-February and returns to Gretna near mid-December.
What is the rainy season in Gretna?
Gretna sees its heaviest rain in August (around 6.2 inches), part of roughly 51 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Gretna?
July is Gretna's warmest month, averaging about 82°F.
What is the coldest month in Gretna?
Gretna bottoms out in January, with a mean near 54°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Gretna?
Frost-hardy sowings begin at mid-February in Gretna; warm-season starts follow two weeks on.
How many rainy days does Gretna get?
Gretna averages about 205 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is Gretna?
Gretna's USDA zone comes from its January mean (54°F); enter the ZIP on the USDA lookup for the number.
What is the 10-day forecast for Gretna?
Gretna's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Gretna?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Gretna in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Gretna?
Current conditions for Gretna and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Gretna forecast updated?
The Gretna forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Gretna?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Gretna are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Gretna?
The next few days in Gretna's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Gretna, Louisiana occupies a humid subtropical zone, with January means near 54°F and July around 82°F — a 28°F swing.

Gretna sees close to 51 inches of precipitation annually, falling across some 205 wet days.

The 28°F gap between Gretna's summer and winter, at 29.9°N, shapes Gretna's frost calendar.

ZIP codes in Gretna

  • 70056
  • 70053
  • 70054

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.