Midwinter lows in South Houston stay above those of 94% of U.S. towns
In July the day’s top temperature is typically 93°. It is a wet place: more rain and snow fall here than on 93% of U.S. towns. The latest 30-year average runs 1.4° warmer than 1901–2000’s, with February up the most. Plan time outside from October to April, when highs sit at 64–82°.
A year in South Houston at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about South Houston’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with South Houston’s place in Texas beside it.
What a year in South Houston feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
A freeze most winters
Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Houston Hobby Airport, 4 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.
The 2023 USDA map puts South Houston’s center in zone 9b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 28°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 54 inches of rain a year
September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain falls on about 86 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.0" in a normal year at Houston Deer Park, TX, so most winters see none.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in South Houston
25% of the work is heating, so air conditioning is the bigger bill. Months averaging under 55° run from January.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Houston Hobby Airport.
Living with South Houston’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
Zone 9b. Frost comes about 9 winters in 10, so tender plants can often stay out through winter.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: January, February, March, April, October, November and December. 0.8 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in South Houston from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (46%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 11%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →South Houston and its neighbors
Houston the hottest July afternoons (94°, 1° warmer). Differences under a degree are within what the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.
Climates most like South Houston’s, 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.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Houston, TX | 45° | 93° | 54" | 0.0" |
| Ocala, FL | 45° | 92° | 52" | 0.0" |
| St. Marys, GA | 43° | 91° | 51" | 0.0" |
| Paradise, CA | 40° | 93° | 57" | 0.1" |
| Morgan City, LA | 44° | 91° | 60" | 0.0" |
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in South Houston averaged 1.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+2.6°).
A bigger shift than in 55% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How South Houston compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with South Houston’s place among Texas’.
South Houston weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at South Houston’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Houston Deer Park, TX. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 64° | 45° | 4.2" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 49° – 61° |
| February | 67° | 49° | 2.9" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 49° – 66° |
| March | 73° | 55° | 3.5" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 58° – 71° |
| April | 79° | 60° | 4.0" | 0.0" | 5 | 0 | 65° – 74° |
| May | 85° | 68° | 5.2" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 73° – 80° |
| June | 90° | 74° | 5.5" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 79° – 85° |
| July | 93° | 75° | 4.4" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 81° – 86° |
| August | 93° | 75° | 5.2" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 80° – 89° |
| September | 89° | 71° | 5.7" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 77° – 84° |
| October | 82° | 62° | 5.2" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 68° – 77° |
| November | 72° | 53° | 4.2" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 57° – 68° |
| December | 65° | 47° | 4.3" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 49° – 61° |
| Year | 79° | 61° | 54.2" | 0.0" | 86 | 0 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 49° to 66°. July is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Where South Houston’s 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 South Houston’s center.
- Snow: Houston Deer Park, TX.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Houston Hobby Airport, 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 South Houston’s climate
What is the weather like in South Houston?
A typical July afternoon reaches 93°, a January night drops to 45°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 94% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 90% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in South Houston in winter?
January nights average 45°. About 4 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 49°.
How much snow does South Houston get?
About 0.0 inches in a normal winter at Houston Deer Park, TX, so most winters see none.
How hot does it get in South Houston?
July, with a typical high of 93° and a low of 75°. About 101 days a year reach 90° and 3 reach 100° (Houston Hobby Airport).
When is the first and last frost in South Houston?
There is no reliable frost date: a 32° night comes in about 86% of winters at Houston Hobby Airport, so most years bring a freeze but some pass without one.
What growing zone is South Houston in?
Zone 9b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 28°.
What is the best time of year to visit South Houston?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), January, February, March, April, October, November and December. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is South Houston getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.4° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 55% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in South Houston.
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.