Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Forest Heights

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Climate in Forest Heights · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Forest Heights’ winters are milder and less snowy than most of the U.S.

A typical July afternoon reaches 92°, a January night drops to 42°, and snow is almost unheard of.

Milder January nights than 90% of U.S. towns#182Mildest winters  of 633 in TX
Wetter than 97% of U.S. towns#12 wettest of 633 in TX
All TX rankings →

A year in Forest Heights at a glance

Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.

Jan62°42°
Feb66°46° Last frost ~Feb 28
Mar72°51°
Apr78°58°
May85°65° 2 days 90°+
Jun90°71° 15 days 90°+Wettest
Jul92°73° 21 days 90°+
Aug92°73° 22 days 90°+
Sep89°68° 12 days 90°+
Oct81°58° 1 day 90°+
Nov now71°49° First frost ~Nov 23
Dec64°43°

What stands out about Forest Heights’ climate

Compared with towns across the U.S., with Forest Heights’ place in Texas beside it.

A normal year

What a year in Forest Heights feels like

Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.

Winter
64° / 43°
Snow is rare
Spring
78° / 58°
Last frost around Feb 28
Summer
91° / 72°
74 days reach 90°
Fall
80° / 59°
First frost around Nov 23
Best months to be outsideFebMarAprOctNovDecHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Frost, heat & the growing season

About 273 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by February 28 and the first by November 23. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Orange 9 N, TX, 1.4 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.

19
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
225th fewest of 631 in Texas
Fewer freezing nights than 88% of U.S. towns
0
nights at or below 0°
None in a normal year
74
days that reach 90°
600th most of 631 in Texas
More 90° days than 84% of U.S. towns
<1
days that reach 100°
611th most of 631 in Texas
More 100° days than 70% of U.S. towns
9aUSDA zone
Plant hardiness zone 9a

The 2023 USDA map puts Forest Heights’ center in zone 9a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 24°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

6
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

22
JFMAMJJASOND
Rain & snow

About 61 inches of rain a year

June is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain falls on about 127 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.0" in a normal year at Orange 9 N, TX, so most winters see none.

61"
Rain + melted snow a year
12th wettest of 633 in Texas
Wetter than 97% of U.S. towns
0.0"
Snow in a normal winter
Less snow than 93% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

6.3"
JFMAMJJASOND
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Forest Heights

42% of the work is heating, so air conditioning is the bigger bill. Months averaging under 55°: December and January.

1,752 heating degree daysLess heating than 89% of U.S. towns
2,429 cooling degree daysMore cooling than 88% of U.S. towns

Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Orange 9 N, TX.

Living here

Living with Forest Heights’ climate

What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.

The garden window

273 frost-free days in zone 9a. The last frost comes by Feb 28 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Nov 23.

Get outside

Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: February, March, April, October, November and December.

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Forest Heights from natural hazards, hurricanes are the largest share (48%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 8%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.

Natural hazards →
Next door & far away

Forest Heights and similar climates

TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Forest Heights yet.

Climates most like Forest Heights’, farther away

TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.

TownJan. lowJuly highPrecip.Snow
Forest Heights, TX42°92°61"0.0"
Baker, LA41°92°63"0.0"
Milton, FL41°91°63"0.1"
Foley, AL42°91°63"0.1"
Magalia, CA38°92°61"0.1"

Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.

Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Forest Heights averaged 0.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+1.8°).

+0.9°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A smaller shift than in 81% of U.S. towns.

Winter+1.2°now 54°, was 52°
Spring+1.0°now 68°, was 67°
Summer+0.7°now 82°, was 81°
Fall+0.9°now 69°, was 68°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.

Compared with other towns

How Forest Heights compares

Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Forest Heights’ place among Texas’.

Summer heat92° July high
Hotter July afternoons than 86% of U.S. towns589th hottest of 633 in Texas
Winter cold42° January low
Milder January nights than 90% of U.S. towns182nd mildest of 633 in Texas
Precipitation61" a year
Wetter than 97% of U.S. towns12th wettest of 633 in Texas
Snow0.0" a winter
Less snow than 93% of U.S. townsNot ranked: under an inch a year
Hot days74 days at 90°+
More 90° days than 84% of U.S. towns600th most of 631 in Texas
Freezing nights19 a year
Fewer freezing nights than 88% of U.S. towns225th fewest of 631 in Texas
Growing season273 frost-free days
A longer frost-free season than 94% of U.S. towns149th longest of 553 in Texas
Month by month

Forest Heights weather by month

Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Forest Heights’ center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Orange 9 N, TX. 1991–2020 normals.

MonthHighLowRain + meltSnowWet daysSnow on ground30-yr range
January62°42°5.5"0.0"12046° – 59°
February66°46°3.7"0.0"11047° – 64°
March72°51°3.9"0.0"9055° – 69°
April78°58°4.3"0.0"9063° – 72°
May85°65°4.9"0.0"9072° – 78°
June90°71°6.3"0.0"12079° – 84°
July92°73°5.5"0.0"13081° – 84°
August92°73°6.0"0.0"13079° – 86°
September89°68°5.6"0.0"11076° – 82°
October81°58°5.4"0.0"9066° – 75°
November71°49°4.7"0.0"10055° – 65°
December64°43°5.2"0.0"11046° – 60°
Year78°58°60.9"0.0"1270
Year to year

How much a month can swing

A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 47° to 64°. July is the most reliable, staying within 4°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal
Sources

Where Forest Heights’ numbers come from

Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →

  • Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Forest Heights’ center.
  • Snow: Orange 9 N, TX (NOAA station in town).
  • Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Orange 9 N, TX, 1.4 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
  • Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  • Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
  • Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).

Common questions about Forest Heights’ climate

What is the weather like in Forest Heights?

A typical July afternoon reaches 92°, a January night drops to 42°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 90% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 86% of U.S. towns.

How cold does it get in Forest Heights in winter?

January nights average 42°. About 19 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 46°.

How much snow does Forest Heights get?

About 0.0 inches in a normal winter at Orange 9 N, TX, so most winters see none.

How hot does it get in Forest Heights?

July, with a typical high of 92° and a low of 73°. About 74 days a year reach 90° (Orange 9 N, TX).

When is the first and last frost in Forest Heights?

In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by February 28 and the first fall frost by November 23, about 273 frost-free days, at Orange 9 N, TX.

What growing zone is Forest Heights in?

Zone 9a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 24°.

What is the best time of year to visit Forest Heights?

By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), February, March, April, October, November and December. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.

Is Forest Heights getting warmer?

Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.0° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 81% of U.S. towns.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Forest Heights.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.