, not far from the sea (the center is 75 km or 45 miles away from the Gulf of Mexico, but the southeastern suburbs are much closer), it is also surrounded by lakes (Lake Houston to the north) and bays, and it is located in a marshy and flood-prone area.
At George Bush airport, which is located in the northern part of the city (therefore the one furthest from the sea), the
of the coldest month (January) is of 12.1 °C (54 °F), that of the warmest months (July and August) is of 29.5 °C (85 °F).
, from December to February, is mild.
The sun shines quite often, although there are periods characterized by clouds, rain and wind.
Normally the days are mild, but at night it is often cold, and the temperature can approach the freezing point.
There may be warm periods even in the middle of winter, when the temperature can reach or exceed 25 °C (77 °F).
, with highs below 5 °C (41 °F).
in Houston is rare. Generally, only a few centimeters (1 in = 2.5 cm) of snow fall. Normally, you have to wait two or three years between a snowfall with slight accumulation and the next.
On the coldest days of the year, the temperature generally drops slightly below freezing. However, from time to time there can be more intense cold spells, in which the temperature drops to around -10 °C (14 °F). In recent decades, the record is -14 °C (7 °F), recorded in December 1989. In February 2021, the temperature dropped to -10.5 °C (13 °F).
, from June to September, is very hot, with a combination of humidity and temperature that makes the heat sweltering.
On the hottest days of the year, it usually reaches 38/40 °C (100/104 °F). The record is 43 °C (109.5 °F), recorded il early September 2000 and in August 2011.
The sun often shines, but the sky is not always clear, as cloud coverings can form, which can give rise to thunderstorms.
From June to November (but with a higher probability from August to October), there is the risk of
. The city was hit hard by the hurricanes Alicia in August 1983 and Harvey in late August 2017.
, from March to May and from early October to late November, are generally warm to hot seasons, with infrequent rains (but when it rains, the rains can be abundant).
Sometimes there can be some bursts of cold air, especially in March and November, which generally bring a bit of cold especially at night.
temperature ranges between 17.5 °C (63.5 °F) and 29.5 °C (85 °F). In winter, the sea is quite cold, while it becomes very warm in summer.
To visit Houston, you can choose spring and autumn (in particular, from mid-March to mid-April and from mid-October to mid-November), to avoid the summer heat. In winter, there are long mild periods, but some very cold days cannot be excluded.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.1 °C, with a minimum of
6.5 °C and a maximum of
17.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-7.2 °C in January 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C. However, it reached
28.3 °C in January 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
95 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
14.3 °C, with a minimum of
8.7 °C and a maximum of
19.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-6.1 °C in February 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27.5 °C. However, it reached
32.2 °C in February 1996.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
March is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.7 °C, with a minimum of
12 °C and a maximum of
23.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.6 °C in March 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29.5 °C. However, it reached
32.2 °C in March 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
90 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
April is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.1 °C, with a minimum of
15.4 °C and a maximum of
26.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
2.8 °C in April 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31.5 °C. However, it reached
33.9 °C in April 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
100 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
21.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
May is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
25.2 °C, with a minimum of
19.9 °C and a maximum of
30.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12 °C. However, it dropped to
5.6 °C in May 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C. However, it reached
37.2 °C in May 1996.
Precipitation amounts to
125 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
June is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.3 °C, with a minimum of
23.2 °C and a maximum of
33.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
19 °C. However, it dropped to
13.3 °C in June 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36.5 °C. However, it reached
41.7 °C in June 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
150 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
July is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29.5 °C, with a minimum of
24.3 °C and a maximum of
34.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21.5 °C. However, it dropped to
17.8 °C in July 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37 °C. However, it reached
39.4 °C in July 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
95 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
29.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29.5 °C, with a minimum of
24.1 °C and a maximum of
34.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21 °C. However, it dropped to
15.6 °C in August 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
38.5 °C. However, it reached
42.8 °C in August 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
125 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
29.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
September is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
26.9 °C, with a minimum of
21.4 °C and a maximum of
32.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14.5 °C. However, it dropped to
9 °C in September 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C. However, it reached
43 °C in September 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
120 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
22.1 °C, with a minimum of
16.1 °C and a maximum of
28.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.7 °C in October 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
35.6 °C in October 1991.
Precipitation amounts to
140 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
26.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
November is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.7 °C, with a minimum of
10.8 °C and a maximum of
22.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.8 °C in November 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29.5 °C. However, it reached
32 °C in November 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
100 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22.7 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13 °C, with a minimum of
7.6 °C and a maximum of
18.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1 °C. However, it dropped to
-6 °C in December 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27 °C. However, it reached
29.4 °C in December 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
100 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.