Houston
Weather - It is often joked that Houston
has only two seasons: summer and the rainy season.
Houston has a humid, subtropical climate that can
sometimes make it hard to breathe and turn bad hair
days into hair catastrophes. On the upside, the Houston
metro area is very green and lovely from the plentiful
rain that it receives.
Summer. Summers get very, very hot
in Houston and are very long. Temperatures can reach
into the mid to upper 90's with the heat index making
it feel like it is really in the triple digits. Late
July through September are the hottest months in Houston.
Airconditioning in cars and homes are necessary. Death
by heatstroke is a problem with the very young and
the elderly. Never leave a child or pet in a car during
the summer, even for a few minutes. Being so close
to the Gulf of Mexico, Houston experiences many afternoon
seabreeze showers, some which can be severe. Hurricanes
and tropical systems are also a threat. So if you
see a storm approaching, tune to the local news channels
ABC 13, NBC 12, CBS11, and KRIV 26 for updates.
Fall. Autumn in Houston is quite
dry and mild, but sometimes early cool fronts will
come through around the end of October. Weather is
always unpredictable, especially in the Bayou City.
One Fall day you might need a jacket and the next
day you can wear shorts and a tank top.
Winter. Winters get surprisingly
chilly around Houston starting about January, but
sometimes earlier. This is when it rains alot. Temperatures
can dip into the twenties at night and reach only
48 degrees during the day. This cold phenomenon lasts
until early to mid March, slowly warming up.
Spring. Spring is one of the best
seasons in Houston. It rains alot, so always have
an umbrella, but the Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush
(Texas wildflowers) start to bloom all over the city.
The weather is pleasant and sunny three to four days
out of the week, and the temperatures rarely get above
80 degrees Farenheit. A light jacket maybe needed
in the mornings, but summer attire is perfectly comfortable
and acceptable after that.
