Weather In Major Texas Cities

The major cities in Texas can be as far as 650 miles apart, or about the difference between Savannah, Georgia and Atlantic City, New Jersey. If one considers the variation between weather patterns in these two cities, it becomes obvious that many Texas towns have little in common when it comes to their climate.

Houston, along the Gulf Coast, is located in a wet, humid environment. Summers are hot and muggy, but the winters are mild, with temperatures seldom dropping below 50 degrees. High rainfall levels have led to a population that values its umbrellas and lightweight raincoats.

On the other hand, the Dallas/Fort Worth area is less likely to know in advance how severe winters are going to be. There are years when temperatures rarely dropped below freezing, and precipitation was in the form of rain and perhaps a little sleet. But there are also years when the entire area is blanketed by thick ice, bringing the city to a virtual standstill due to the scarcity of equipment to care for the roads. Sand trucks are deployed, but snowplows are not to be seen, so a severe winter has major consequences on the area’s economy.

Six hundred and fifty miles away, the El Paso area has relatively mild weather all year round. Due to the high elevation, nights are cool both summer and winter. However, days are mild in all seasons. Even in the summer, temperatures seldom rise much above 90 degrees. And with average rainfall in the neighborhood of 8 to 9 inches, there is insufficient precipitation to allow for much in the way of snow, hail, or thunderstorms.

San Antonio usually has temperate weather, with summer highs in the 80’s and winter highs averaging in the 50’s. Lows, even during the coldest months, rarely drop below the high 30’s. Precipitation is almost all in the form of rain, and averages around 33 inches per year. Rainfall is spread throughout the year, with no distinct rainy season. The mild weather has lead to the popularity of outdoor entertainment districts, such as the River Walk.

A little more than seventy miles away, Austin has more severe winters and hotter summers. Highs in the mid to upper 90’s are normal for Austin during the summer, while winter lows can plummet to well below freezing. Annual precipitation is between 33 and 34 inches, and while most of it is in the form of rain, hail, sleet, and snow are not unknown. Located in the Texas Hill Country, the area is subject to flooding. The ground is rocky, which makes for poor drainage, and the rolling hills shed water into populated areas with sometimes disastrous results.

In the panhandle, Amarillo has been the site of occasional severe weather from blizzards to tornadoes. However, the average temperatures usually range from summer highs in the low 90’s to winter highs in the upper 30’s. Winter lows can drop to the low 20’s. Amarillo receives less than 20 inches of rainfall per year, mainly rain but with some snow and sleet included. The wind is formidable, which leads to drifting when any significant snowfall is received.

Brownsville, on the southern tip of Texas, is one of the warmest cities year round in the state. As such, it is a popular destination for “snowbirds” or temporary residents who relocate in the winter from more severe climates. Summer temperatures are usually in the 90’s and sometimes climb beyond the 100 mark. However, winter temperatures, on average, are normally in the mid 60’s and the lows rarely drop below 50.

Overall, the climate in Texas is relatively mild in all seasons when compared to parts of the country that can receive two feet of snow in a single storm, or where temperatures hover in excess of 110 degrees all summer. This proves conducive to outdoor activities, and the state has many lakes and parks that are open year round for boating. Outdoor concerts are popular, and major theme parks are located in several Texas cities.

The population of Texas has long grown accustomed to the variations in weather patterns and the uncertainty of what tomorrow’s weather might be. Other than the devastation of tornadoes and hurricanes, they tend to take everything in stride, seldom changing plans because of a forecast.