Rain and heat by month
| Month | Rain (in) | Avg high (°F) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 5.92 | 62 |
| February | 4.07 | 66 |
| March | 3.72 | 73 |
| April | 4.91 | 79 |
| May | 5.44 | 86 |
| June | 7.09 | 90 |
| July | 6.27 | 92 |
| August | 6.26 | 92 |
| September | 5.02 | 89 |
| October | 4.76 | 81 |
| November | 4.39 | 72 |
| December | 4.96 | 64 |
NOAA 1991–2020 normals for Lafayette Regional Airport (NCEI): about 63 in of rain a year.
Every month is wet by national standards. Late February through March is the best digging window on average; June is the wettest month. Groundwater runs highest in winter, so a December dig is the most likely to need pumps.
Storms that reached Acadiana
Hurricane Lili came ashore near Intracoastal City in Vermilion Parish on October 3, 2002, as a Category 1. Lafayette's airport recorded a 63-knot gust (about 72 mph) and Acadiana Regional near New Iberia 79 knots (about 91 mph) (NWS Lake Charles; NHC). In 2020, Laura's main rain band crossed Jeff Davis, Lafayette and St. Landry parishes with 5–11 in of rain, and falling trees damaged homes in Lafayette Parish (NWS). The bigger local threat has been rain: August 2016 flooded parts of the parish badly (64 Parishes).
Before a storm
- Keep the water level normal. An emptied pool on soaked ground can shift.
- Move chairs, tables and toys indoors; the pool is not a storage spot.
- Clear the skimmer and run the pump while power holds.
- Afterward, wait for the yard to drain before taking any water out (UF/IFAS).
Protecting equipment
Ask your builder to set the pump, filter and heater pad above the lowest part of the yard, away from where water collects, and to put the electrical disconnect where you can reach it. A screen enclosure is uncommon here; if you want one, ask whether it is engineered for local wind loads.
Common questions
What month should I start?
Sign in late summer or fall. At Lafayette Regional, March, February and November are the driest months on average and June is the wettest (NOAA 1991–2020 normals), and hurricane season ends November 30. A pool contracted in the fall is ready for Easter weekend.
How long does a pool take to build?
A local builder puts fiberglass at about 2–3 weeks of installation and gunite at 1.5–3 months (Acadiana Pools). Permit review, a wet spell or a long queue in spring can stretch either one.
Sources & further reading
- NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lafayette Regional
- NWS Lake Charles: Hurricane Lili report
- NHC tropical cyclone report: Lili
- NWS Lake Charles: Laura summary
- UF/IFAS Extension: pools in a hurricane
Editorial note: General planning information, not engineering or legal advice. Prices are estimates; confirm current rules with your local officials and a qualified pro.