Houston, Texas - Weather

Current Weather & Forecast

In Depth Forecast

Climate

Houston's climate is classified as humid subtropical climate. Spring supercell thunderstorms sometimes bring tornadoes to the area. Prevailing winds are from the south and southwest during most of the year, bringing heat across the continent from the deserts of Mexico and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.

During the summer months, it is common for the temperature to reach over 90°F (32°C), with an average of 99days per year above 90°F (32°C). However, the humidity results in a heat index higher than the actual temperature. Summer mornings average over 90percent relative humidity and approximately 60percent in the afternoon. Winds are often light in the summer and offer little relief, except near the immediate coast. To cope with the heat, people use air conditioning in nearly every vehicle and building in the city; in fact, in 1980 Houston was described as the "most air-conditioned place on earth". Scattered afternoon thunderstorms are common in the summer. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Houston was 109°F (43°C) on September 4, 2000.

Winters in Houston are fairly temperate. The average high in January, the coldest month, is 63°F (17°C), while the average low is 45°F (7°C). Snowfall is generally rare. The last snowstorm to hit Houston was on 2004 Christmas Eve Snowstorm|December 24, 2004. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Houston was 5°F (15°C) on January 23, 1940. Houston receives a high amount of rainfall annually, averaging about 54inches a year. These rains tend to cause floods over portions of the city.

Houston has excessive ozone levels and is ranked among the most ozone-polluted cities in the United States. Ground-level ozone, or smog, is Houston’s predominant air pollution problem, with the American Lung Association rating the metropolitan area's ozone level as the 6th worst in the United States in 2006. The industries located along the ship channel are a major cause of the city's air pollution.