Texas

Climate in Texas

Texas is a very large state, with an incredibly diverse topography and therefore the Texas climate is hard to pinpoint. The Gulf Coast has a typically maritime climate, with hot, humid summers and mild winters. The central and northern areas are more continental, with hot summers and cold winters. Dry and hot conditions exist along the Mexican border in the southwest, and in the northwest, in the Texas-Oklahoma panhandle, winters are colder with snowfall a common occurrence. The state has two principal seasons, with summer usually running from about April to October, and winter beginning in November and lasting until about March.

In summer, temperatures can range from 96F (36C) in El Paso in the southwest, to 91F (33C) in Amarillo in the panhandle, to 88F (31C) on the Gulf Coast, while winter temperatures in the same three areas can range from 29F (-2C), to a more mild 48F (9C) on the Gulf Coast. The rainfall in Texas can vary too, with the western areas experiencing the least amount and the east and southeast along the Gulf of Mexico experiencing the most. The Gulf Coast is susceptible to hurricanes and tornadoes, while the state has also experienced severe floods, as well as droughts.