Houston, MO climate
Houston has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 23°, and about 4 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Houston feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Houston weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 44° | 23° | 2.7" | 1.6" | 7 | 29° – 42° |
| February | 49° | 27° | 2.7" | 0.6" | 8 | 28° – 47° |
| March | 58° | 34° | 4.1" | 0.5" | 9 | 38° – 59° |
| April | 69° | 44° | 4.7" | 0 | 10 | 49° – 63° |
| May | 76° | 53° | 5.4" | 0 | 11 | 60° – 71° |
| June | 84° | 62° | 4.2" | 0 | 9 | 68° – 77° |
| July | 88° | 66° | 3.9" | 0 | 7 | 71° – 83° |
| August | 87° | 64° | 3.7" | 0 | 7 | 69° – 81° |
| September | 80° | 55° | 3.9" | 0 | 7 | 63° – 74° |
| October | 69° | 44° | 3.4" | 0 | 7 | 51° – 62° |
| November | 57° | 35° | 3.9" | 0.3" | 8 | 38° – 53° |
| December | 46° | 27° | 2.8" | 0.7" | 7 | 24° – 44° |
| Year | 67° | 44° | 45.2" | 3.7" | 97 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Houston
Houston gets 45 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 97 days a year.
About 194 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 10 and the first one by October 23. That leaves about 194 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 68% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Houston
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Houston, 78% of that work is heating and 22% is cooling.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How Houston compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Houston averaged 0.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+1.8°). The shift is smaller than in 96% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Houston’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. March swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 38° to 59°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about Houston’s climate
What is the coldest month in Houston?
January, with a typical high of 44° and a low of 23°.
What is the hottest month in Houston?
July, with a typical high of 88° and a low of 66°. About 29 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Houston get?
About 4 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Houston?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 23, and the last spring frost by April 10.
What is the rainiest month in Houston?
May, with 5.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 45 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Houston itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Houston, MO (1 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.