Interesting Texas Weather Facts

• Port Arthur in southeast Texas is the 3rd most humid city in the United States with an average of 77% annual humidity. In contrast, El Paso in West Texas is the 5th least humid city with an annual average humidity of only 42.5%. In addition, El Paso is the 5th sunniest city in the United States with 83% of possible sunshine annually. Amarillo is the 3rd windiest city in the United States with an annual average of 13.5 mph

• Del Rio in southwest Texas ranks as the hottest city in the United States when applying the temperature-humidity index. During July and August, the temperature-humidity index averages 110 degrees. During the period November 2008 - April 2009, Texas cities set or equaled the nation's daily high temperature on 91 days out of a possible 181 days, or 50% of the time

• The average January temperature for Amarillo is 36.7 degrees while in Brownsville the average is 61.4. On March 27, 1984, the temperature in Brownsville was 106 degrees while Amarillo reported snow and 35 degrees

• Average yearly rainfall totals in West Texas are less than 8 inches while in East Texas totals exceed 56 inches. Port Arthur is southeast Texas averages 59.80 inches of precipitation and is among the Top 10 wettest cities in the United States. Port Arthur receives 38% more precipitation than Seattle, Washington which receives only 37.07 inches

• Although Dallas and Ft Worth are located only 35 miles apart, eastern Dallas averages 6 more inches of precipitation per year than western Ft. Worth

• Galveston has been hit by the most tropical storms and hurricanes in Texas.  Since 1871, the city has been affected 47 times, with the most recent storms being Edouard and Ike in 2008. Hurricane Ike was the largest Hurricane ever observed in the Atlantic Basin, and came ashore over Galveston. Ike was the third most destructive hurricane ever to hit the United States

• Texas has experienced 98 degrees or higher in every month of the year, The record highs for Texas during May through September are 116 degrees and higher

• The 1980 heat wave was one of the worst in Texas history. At Dallas-Ft Worth, it lasted from June 21st to September 16th. The average high temperature was 102.1 degrees. 69 days reached 100 degrees, 28 days reached 105 or greater and 5 days reached 110 degrees or higher. Only .46 inches of rain fell, with 31 consecutive days with no precipitation

• The average number of days between the first and last freeze of the winter season in Brownsville averages only 44 days, while Dalhart in the Texas Panhandle averages over four times as long with 189 days

• From 1950-2007, Harris county in southeast Texas reported the most tornadoes in Texas with 212. Surprisingly, four of the Top 5 counties are located on the Texas Gulf Coast rather than the Texas portion of Tornado Alley due to high annual thunderstorm  and tropical/hurricane activity. Sutton County in southwest Texas reported the lowest number of tornadoes with only one touching down in the county

• One of the most damaging dust storms in Texas history occurred on June 18, 2009 in the Texas South Plains. Winds up to 67 mph lofted dust 6,500 feet in the air and reduced visibilities to less than 300 yards. The cotton crop was severely affected by the high winds and blasting effect of the dust, causing property and agricultural damage of up to 6 million dollars

• During the period 1/1/1950 - 7/31/2009, 646 incidents of hail 3.0 inches or greater (larger than baseball-size) were reported in Texas. Tarrant county in North Texas recorded the highest amount of incidents of this type of large hail with 11. Three of these incidents recorded hail of 4.5 inches in diameter, or softball-size

• The average annual temperatures of Amarillo, Texas (57.0), Washington D.C. (57.5), St. Louis, MO (56.3) and Evansville, IN (56.0) differ by only 1 degree or less. 

Data source: National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC