The Climate of Texas

By | August 27, 2022

According to Abbreviation Finder, Texas (TX), located in the south of the United States, is the second largest US state in terms of area after Alaska. With more than 20 million inhabitants, Texas is also the second largest state in terms of population after California. In Texas you will find six cities with more than half a million inhabitants, of which Houston, San Antonio and Dallas even exceed the number of one million inhabitants.

Two Important Climate Types for Texas

Texas has two climate types. Most of Texas has a warm maritime climate (type Cfa according to the Köppen climate classification ))), with warm summers and mild winters. Thanks to the relatively small amounts of precipitation, western Texas has a warm steppe climate (Type Bsh) for the most part. For example, in El Paso there is only 225 millimeters of precipitation per year (long-term average), while in the extreme east of Texas this can rise to as much as sixteen hundred millimeters. As far as the average annual temperature is concerned, you see a course from north to south, with the north being the coolest region, with an average annual temperature of 11 to 14 degrees. The warmest regions can be found in the south, where the average annual temperature is around 25 degrees Celsius. Texas sometimes has very fickle weather, deviating quite a lot from the long-term climate averages.

Extreme weather

Texas sometimes has to deal with extreme weather. Thanks to the warm climate, the mercury can rise to very high values ​​in the summer. Especially in the far west and south it can regularly get forty degrees or warmer. Even in the big cities it is often uncomfortably hot in the summer. Texas has a (relatively small) chance of hurricanes due to its location on the Gulf of Mexico. If it does happen that a hurricane-force tropical storm hits Texas, the hurricane often loses much of its strength once it makes landfall. There are real exceptions, such as in August 2017 when severe Hurricane Harvey hit Texas. Houston was then partially submerged, dozens of people were killed and damage amounted to tens of billions of dollars.

An even bigger problem is the extremely severe thunderstorms that can occur. The northern half of Texas, along with the state of Louisiana, forms the beginning of Tornado Alley, a large area where thunderstorms are the source of tornadoes. With an average of 139 tornadoes per year, Texas is the state with the most tornadoes in the United States.

Exceptionally wintery

When you talk about extreme weather, in the case of Texas you can easily talk about heat, hurricanes, tornadoes or thunderstorms. Another extreme is severe winter weather. In general, winters in Texas are mild, especially in the coastal areas. In February 2021, Texas experienced winter conditions that are highly unusual for this southern state. Freezing cold, snow and a real winter storm caused serious problems. For example, a temperature of -17 degrees was measured in Dallas, which almost meant a cold record. Locally, a temperature of 22 degrees below zero was even measured in Texas, while minimum temperatures of roughly 3 to 10 degrees above freezing are normal in February.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

maximum temperature minimum temperature hours of sunshine per day days of rainfall per month
January 15℃ 3℃ 5 7
February 17℃ 5℃ 6 7
March 22℃ 10℃ 7 7
April 26℃ 15℃ 7 7
May 29℃ 19℃ 7 9
June 33℃ 22℃ 10 7
July 35℃ 23℃ 10 5
August 35℃ 23℃ 10 6
September 32℃ 20℃ 8 8
October 28℃ 15℃ 7 6
November 22℃ 9℃ 6 7
December 17℃ 5℃ 5 7

The climate of Abilene

According to Countryaah, Abilene is a large city in the central western part of the US state of Texas, in Taylor County. The city was founded in the late 1800s with the arrival of the Texas and Pacific Railway. With the arrival of Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene Christian University and later McMurry University, the city has grown into the city it is today. West of the city is Dyess Air Force Base. The West Texas Fair & Rodeo, held here every September, is one of the city’s biggest events.

Abilene has a warm maritime climate, with hot summer months and cool winter months. Long periods of frost can occur during the winter months, although this is usually limited to night frost. Summers are particularly warm, with temperatures well above 30 degrees Celsius. The average precipitation here is lower than in the more westerly places in Texas. Abilene is in Tornado Alley so keep that in mind.

The climate of Amarillo

Amarillo is a large city in the north of the US state of Texas, in Potter County. Amarillo is the largest city in the Texas Panhandle (the 26 northernmost counties). The city was founded at the end of the 19th century. Oil was discovered here in the early 20th century, giving the city a booming economy. In addition to oil, the city also possesses the largest helium fields in the world. In Amarillo is the American Quarter Horse Museum.

Amarillo has a warm steppe climate, with cold winters and a long, warm summer. Due to the northern location of the city, the average annual temperature is a few degrees lower than in the more southern places. The winter months in particular are a lot colder here. Prolonged periods of night frost are no exception. Average annual precipitation is low and peaks during the summer months.

The climate of Austin

Austin is the capital of the US state of Texas. Austin is located on the Colorado River and is the fourth largest city in Texas in terms of population. Austin is an important city in the high-tech sector. Technology companies provide a lot of employment in the city, which is considered a cheaper alternative to Silicon Valley. Austin is also known for its large number of universities.

Austin has a warm maritime climate, which is referred to as a Cfa climate type within the Köppen climate system. Austin’s climate is characterized by hot summers, with frequent very warm winds coming from the Gulf of Mexico. The winters are mild, but sometimes have vicious peaks, sometimes moderate to even severe frost can occur at night. On average, the winters are mild, with an average maximum temperature of 15 to 18 degrees and nights when frost usually does not occur. Snow is rare: on an annual basis only one and a half centimeters falls. In practice, this means that it snows once every few years, often with a few centimeters falling.

The climate of Beaumont

Beaumont is a large city in eastern Texas, not far from the Louisiana state border. Beaumont is located in Jefferson County, not far from the Gulf of Mexico. Beaumont, along with the neighboring towns of Port Arthur and Orange, is located in the so-called Golden Triangle. This is an important industrial area on the Gulf of Mexico. The city was founded in the first half of the 19th century on the river Neches. Oil was discovered here in the early 20th century, giving the city’s economy a significant boost.

Beaumont has a warm maritime climate, with a lot of precipitation throughout the year. On average, more than 1,600 millimeters of precipitation falls annually, making Beaumont one of the wettest places in Texas. During the hottest summer months, the high amount of precipitation ensures a high average humidity. Prolonged frosts are rare.

The climate of Brownsville

Brownsville is a large city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas. The city is located on the Rio Grande River, which forms the border with Mexico here. Across the river is the Mexican city of Matamoros. More than 1 million people live in the metropolitan area of ​​these two cities. The city originated in the mid-19th century as a military outpost. Just outside the city is the Port of Brownsville. This port is one of the city’s main sources of income.

Brownsville has a warm maritime climate, influenced by the Gulf of Mexico. Due to this influence, extremes do not occur quickly here. But this is no guarantee: almost 4 centimeters of snow fell here during the Christmas season in 2004. This was the first white Christmas in Brownsville ever. Before this, it had been over 100 years since it had snowed in Brownsville.

The climate of College Station

College Station is a large city in the central eastern part of Texas. The city is located in the middle of the triangle of the three major cities of Houston, Dallas and San Antonio in the Brazos Valley. The city was created in the mid-19th century during the construction of the Houston and Texas Central Railway. The city is home to Texas A&M University and the Texas A&M Health Science Center, which together have more than 50,000 students.

College Station has a warm maritime climate, with high rainfall throughout the year. the climate in College Station is influenced by the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, prolonged frost rarely occurs. During the hottest summer days, the high amount of precipitation ensures that the average humidity is very high. The average temperature during the summer months is well above 30 degrees Celsius.

The climate of Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi is a large city in southeastern Texas, on the Gulf of Mexico. Near the city is the Port of Corpus Christi, the third most important port in the US. The city was established in the mid-19th century as a trading post. With the arrival of the port in the early 20th century and the arrival of the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, the city has grown in recent decades into the prosperous city it is today. Due to its location on Corpus Christi Bay, the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre, the city is very popular with anglers.

Corpus Christi has a warm maritime climate, which is strongly influenced by the Gulf of Mexico. The water temperature is well above 20 degrees Celsius almost all year round. This provides a warming effect during the winter months. Most precipitation falls during late summer. Prolonged frosts are rare.

The climate of Dallas

Dallas is a large city in the north of the US state of Texas. Dalles is one of the ten largest cities in the US. The city originated in the early 19th century, before this region was inhabited by the Caddo Indians. At the end of the 19th century, the city flourished with the arrival of the railways. At the beginning of the 20th century, the city was given a new impetus by the discovery of oil and natural gas in the region. Dallas gained worldwide fame on November 22, 1963, with the assassination attempt on President John F. Kennedy by Lee Harvey Oswald. There are many conspiracy theories about this assassination attempt to this day. Dallas has earned its spurs in the sporting field and has a team in every top division. The Texas Rangers play in Major League Baseball,

Dalles has a warm maritime climate, influenced by the Gulf of Mexico. Due to this influence, extremes are less likely to occur in the city. During the winter months, the average night temperature is just above freezing, but long periods of night frost are certainly no exception. For example, in February 2021 Dallas was hit by extreme winter cold, with the official minimum temperatures dropping to -17 degrees.

During the summer months the average temperature is very high. Afternoon temperatures of 32 to 38 degrees are normal in July and August. This, together with the large amount of precipitation, ensures a high humidity. Most precipitation falls during the early summer months.

The climate of El Paso

El Paso is a major city in the westernmost part of Texas, in El Paso County. Some of the city’s suburbs are in the neighboring state of New Mexico. The city is located on the Rio Grande, which forms the border with neighboring Mexico. Across the street is the Mexican city of Ciudad Juárez. The city is partly built on the flanks of the Franklin Mountains. Fort Bliss, one of the largest military bases in the US, is located just outside El Paso. All in all, 8,500 soldiers live here and more than 6,000 civilians work there.

El Paso has a warm steppe climate, with little to no precipitation during the year. The winter months can be quite cold, with sometimes long periods of night frost. The summer months, on the other hand, are quite warm, with average temperatures well above 30 degrees Celsius. Outliers above 40 degrees Celsius occur regularly. During the summer months the sun shines exuberantly here.

The climate of Fort Worth

Fort Worth is a large city in the north of the US state of Texas. Fort Worth is located in counties Tarrant, Denton, Parker, Wise and Johnson, on the Trinity River. The city was founded in the mid-19th century as an army post to protect the surrounding settlers against the Indians. When oil was discovered in the region in the early 1900s, the city quickly grew into one of the largest and most important cities in Texas. Today it is the fifth largest city in the state. Fort Worth has been voted “America’s Most Livable Community” a number of times. The old center of the city is mainly built in the Art Deco style.

Fort Worth has a warm maritime climate, with the most precipitation during the early summer months. On average, May sees the most precipitation. During the winter months it can freeze here, although in most cases this will be limited to night frost. During the summer months, the mercury can rise considerably. Fort Worth is located in Tornado Alley.

The climate of Harlingen

Harlingen is a medium-sized town in the southeastern part of the state of Texas, in Cameron County. According to some sources, the city is named after the Frisian city of Harlingen. The city is located not far from the Gulf of Mexico, in the heart of the Rio Grande valley. The city was founded in the early 1800s on the Arroyo Colorado River. Port of Harlingen is just outside the city. This harbor is located on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, which was dug specifically for boats that cannot enter the Gulf of Mexico. Harlingen is served by the Valley International Airport.

Harlingen has a warm maritime climate, which is strongly influenced by the Gulf of Mexico. Because of this influence, the winter months here are a lot warmer than in the more inland places in Texas. Prolonged frosts and night frosts are an exception. Unlike most places in Texas, here the most precipitation falls in late summer. During the hottest summer months, the mercury can easily reach 40 degrees Celsius.

The climate of Houston

Houston is located in the southeastern part of the state of Texas in Harris County. Houston is one of the largest cities in the US. More than 2 million people live in the city and more than 6 million in the metropolitan area. This makes it the fourth largest city in the country. Houston was founded in 1936 and named after the first elected president of independent Texas, Sam Houston. When oil was discovered near Houston in the early 1900s, the city’s economy received a significant boost. To this day, the city is known for its oil and gas industry. The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center is the official visitor center of NASA and attracts many tourists to the city every year. The city also plays an important role in sports: the Houston Astros play in Major League Baseball,

Warm maritime climate

Houston has a warm maritime climate (Cfa climate), with quite a lot of precipitation throughout the year. The precipitation figures here are so high that the climate is comparable to the tropical rainforest climate. During the hot summer days, the average humidity in the city can rise considerably. Most precipitation falls in the early summer months. Houston is located on the edge of Tornado Alley and this is something to keep in mind during tornado season. There is also a chance of hurricanes. Not that this happens often, but when it does, it can be very wrong. A recent example is Hurricane Harvey, which hit Houston in August 2017. There was billions of dollars in damage and dozens of deaths in Texas. Streets were flooded, resulting in, among other things, alligators swimming through the streets of Houston.

Extreme winter weather

If you look at Houston’s climate statistics, you will see very mild winter temperatures. That average climate figures say nothing about the weather at a specific time, the residents of Houston experienced during the winter of 2020/2021. In the tail of winter, in mid-February, Texas was hit by extreme winter cold. What made the situation extra special is that these harsh winter conditions were noticeable all the way to Houston. There, residents, who are used to temperatures well above freezing, had to deal with serious winter weather. Think of heavy frost at night, snow and all kinds of nuisance, such as frozen water pipes and power failure.

The climate of Killeen

Killeen is a large city in the central part of the state of Texas, in Bell County. The city was created by the arrival of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway. Killeen, however, remained a small village for a long time, only growing to its present size in the second half of the last century. This growth can be explained by the arrival of Fort Hood, a military post. In 2009 this military base was attacked by a gunman. This resulted in 13 deaths.

Killeen has a warm maritime climate, with high rainfall throughout the year. Most precipitation falls during the spring and early summer months. During the winter months, precipitation can come down as snow or sleet. Killeen is located in Tornado Alley and you should keep this in mind during tornado season.

The climate of Laredo

Laredo is a large city in southern Texas on the Rio Grande, in Webb County. The Rio Grande forms the border with Mexico here. On the other side of the border is the Mexican city of Nuevo Laredo. The city is home to Laredo Community College, Texas A&M International University; the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has a campus in the city. The city plays an important role in the import and export of Mexican products.

Laredo has a warm steppe climate, based on the low precipitation figures in the region. Temperatures are much higher than in most other parts of Texas due to the city’s southern location. Frost or night frost rarely occurs here. The temperatures during the summer months are quite high, on average above 35 degrees Celsius.

The climate of Lubbock

Lubbock is a large city in the northwestern part of Texas. The region in which the city is located is known as the South Plains. The city mainly lives from agriculture. Cotton is mainly grown in this region, making it the largest cotton producer in the world. Within the metropolitan area of ​​the city of Lubbock are Lubbock Christian University, Texas Tech University, and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

Lubbock has a warm steppe climate because its average annual precipitation figures fall just within the boundaries of the steppe climate. The winter period is particularly dry and a large part of the precipitation that falls during this period will come down as (wet) snow. The winter period is, on average, the wettest period of the year, but precipitation in this period can also be called moderate. Lubbock is in the Tornado Valley, so keep that in mind.

The climate of McAllen

McAllen is a large city in the south of the state of Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley. McAllen is not far from the Mexican border: the Rio Grande forms the border with Mexico here. Less than a hundred kilometers east of the city is the Gulf of Mexico. On the other side of the Mexican border is the city of Reynosa. The University of Texas–Pan American and South Texas College are located in the city’s metropolitan area.

McAllen has a warm maritime climate, which is heavily influenced by the Gulf of Mexico. Due to this influence, prolonged frost rarely or never occurs here. The average precipitation figures are lower than in the more northerly coastal areas of Texas. The high summer months are particularly warm, with average temperatures around 36 degrees Celsius. Outliers above 40 degrees Celsius occur regularly.

The climate of Midland

Midland is a large city in the western part of the US state of Texas. Midland is located for the most part in Midland County and a small part in Martin County, on the edge of the Llano Estacado Plateau. The city was founded as a stop on the Texas and Pacific Railway and was then called Midland Station. Thanks to the discovery of some oil fields, the city has grown into the prosperous city it is today at the beginning of the previous one.

Midland has a warm steppe climate, which is mainly characterized by the relatively low precipitation figures. The average annual precipitation is many times lower than in the more easterly places in Texas. The temperatures are not very different from the rest of the state. The winter months are cold, with regular (night) frosts. The summer months are warm, with average temperatures around 34 degrees Celsius.

The climate of Odessa

Odessa is a large city in western Texas, not far from the New Mexico border. The city was founded in the late 1800s as a stop on the Texas and Pacific Railway and has grown through the discovery of several oil fields near the city. Oil is still the city’s main source of income. The University of Texas of the Permian Basin and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center are both located in Odessa.

Odessa has a warm steppe climate, with little precipitation throughout the year. Winters can be cold, with long periods of (night) frost. Snow can fall regularly during these months. The summer months are warm and slightly more humid than the winter baskets. The average temperature during the high summer months is around 34 degrees Celsius.

The climate of San Angelo

San Angelo is a major city in the western central part of the state of Texas, in Tom Green County. San Angelo is located on the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert and the Edwards Plateau, on the Concho River. Fort Concho is a National Historic Landmark and is maintained by San Angelo. Angelo State University is located in the city. Just outside the city is San Angelo State Park.

Based on the average annual rainfall, San Angelo has a warm steppe climate. Temperatures are quite far apart throughout the year. During the coldest winter months, night frosts regularly occur. The summer months are particularly hot, with average temperatures well above 30 degrees Celsius. San Angelo is located in Tornado Alley, so be aware of this during tornado season.

The climate of San Antonio

San Antonio is a large city in the central part of Texas. San Antonio is one of the 10 largest cities in the United States of America. Several Indian tribes used to live in this area. Signs of early Spanish occupation have also been found. The state of Texas was annexed in 1845, triggering the Texas War of Independence. One of the most famous battles took place in San Antonio, the Battle of the Alamo. Davy Crockett, “King of the Wild Frontier”, was killed in this battle. Today, almost 1,500,000 people live in the city itself and more than 2 million in the metropolitan area. The San Antonio Spurs play basketball in the National Basketball Association. In total, San Antonio is home to more than 100,000 students.

San Antonio has a warm maritime climate, which is heavily influenced by the Gulf of Mexico. Due to this influence, the average temperature during the winter months is slightly higher than in the more northerly places in Texas. Average rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. During the hottest days, the mercury can rise considerably and temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius and higher are no exception.

The climate of Tyler

Tyler is a large city in the northeastern part of the US state of Texas. Tyler is located in Smith County. The city is named after President John Tyler, the tenth president of the United States. The city is home to the University of Texas at Tyler and the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler. The city also has the largest rose garden in the United States. This has earned Tyler the nickname “Rose Capital of the Nation”.

Tyler has a warm maritime climate, with warm and sometimes hot summer months and a cool but pleasant winter period. The average rainfall is quite high. If the temperatures were higher on average, you would speak of a tropical rainforest climate. This ensures high humidity on the hottest days of the year. Tyler is located on the edge of Tornado Alley and sporadic tornadoes can occur here.

The climate of Victoria

Victoria is a city in the southeastern US state of Texas. Victoria is located in Victoria County, not far from the Guadalupe River and about 20 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. More than 100,000 people live in the metropolitan area of ​​the city. The University of Houston–Victoria is located in this city. St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Victoria is one of the oldest in Texas.

Victoria has a warm maritime climate, which is heavily influenced by the Gulf of Mexico. Thanks to the Gulf of Mexico, it rarely freezes. The average summer temperatures are just above 30 degrees Celsius. Outliers towards 40 degrees Celsius are certainly no exception. Most precipitation falls in the spring.

The climate of Waco

Waco is a large city in the central part of the state of Texas, between the two major cities of Dallas and Austin. Waco is located in McLennan County, on the Brazos River. Before Waco was founded in 1849, the Wichita Indians, nicknamed Waco, lived here. The Waco Suspension Bridge from 1869 is one of the attractions of this city. This bridge connects the center with the rest of the city. Baylor University is home to Waco.

Waco has a warm maritime climate, which is influenced by the Gulf of Mexico. Due to this influence, there are fewer extremes than in the more northerly places of Texas. Average rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. During the hottest summer days, the average humidity can rise considerably. Waco is located in Tornado Alley.

The climate of Wichita Falls

Wichita Falls is a large city in the northern part of the state of Texas not far from the border with Oklahoma. The city is located on the Wichita River, after which the city is named. Wichita Falls grew big during the early decades of the last century. Outside the city is the Sheppard Air Force Base. Midwestern State University is located in the city. One of the city’s landmarks is the world’s smallest skyscraper.

Wichita Falls has a warm maritime climate, which, due to its northern location, is less influenced by the Gulf of Mexico than most places in Texas. Light frost can occur here during the winter months. Usually this is limited to night frost. The summer months are particularly hot and temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius and above are the rule rather than the exception. Witchita Falls is located in Tornado Alley. During the tornado season, tornadoes regularly occur here.

Wichita Falls Texas