Houston Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Climate=== {{Main|Climate of Houston}} [[File:Hurricane Harvey (36561871944).jpg|thumb|[[Buffalo Bayou]] after [[Hurricane Harvey]], August 2017]] Houston's climate is classified as [[humid subtropical climate|humid subtropical]] (''Cfa'' in the [[Köppen climate classification system]]), typical of the [[Southern United States]]. While not in [[Tornado Alley]], like much of [[North Texas|Northern Texas]], spring [[Supercell|supercell thunderstorms]] sometimes bring tornadoes to the area.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2019/05/10/hammered-by-heavy-rain-huge-hail-thursday-night-houston-braces-more-downpours/ |title=Hammered by heavy rain and huge hail Thursday night, Houston braces for more downpours, flooding |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=June 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629020015/https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2019/05/10/hammered-by-heavy-rain-huge-hail-thursday-night-houston-braces-more-downpours/ |archive-date=June 29, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Prevailing winds are from the south and southeast during most of the year, which bring heat and tropical moisture from the nearby Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Bay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visithoustontexas.com/media/statistics/Houston_Stats_Weather|title=Weather Stats|work=Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230150744/http://www.visithoustontexas.com/media/statistics/Houston_Stats_Weather|archive-date=December 30, 2008|access-date=October 11, 2008}}</ref> During the summer, temperatures reach or exceed {{convert|90|°F|0}} an average of 106.5 days per year, including a majority of days from June to September. Additionally, an average of 4.6 days per year reach or exceed {{convert|100|°F|1}}.<ref name = NOAA/> Houston's characteristic subtropical humidity often results in a higher [[apparent temperature]], and summer mornings average over 90% [[relative humidity]].<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20011101082154/http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/avgrh.html Average Relative Humidity (%)]", ''National Climatic Data Center''. Retrieved on February 23, 2012.</ref> [[Air conditioning]] is ubiquitous in Houston; in 1981, annual spending on electricity for interior cooling exceeded $600 million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|index=US|value=0.600|start_year=1981|r=2|fmt=c}} billion in {{Inflation-year|index=US}}), and by the late 1990s, approximately 90% of Houston homes featured air conditioning systems.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/02/us/houston-journal-broiling-on-the-outside-but-really-it-s-no-sweat.html |title=Houston Journal; Broiling on the Outside, But, Really, It's No Sweat |last=Rimer |first=Sara |date=July 2, 1998 |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 18, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319152645/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/02/us/houston-journal-broiling-on-the-outside-but-really-it-s-no-sweat.html |archive-date=March 19, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/06/garden/houston-s-lifeline-tons-of-cool-air.html |title=Houston's Lifeline: Tons of Cool Air |last=Crewdson|first=John M. |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 6, 1981 |access-date=March 18, 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319091815/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/06/garden/houston-s-lifeline-tons-of-cool-air.html |archive-date=March 19, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The record highest temperature recorded in Houston is {{convert|109|°F|0}} at Bush Intercontinental Airport, during September 4, 2000, and again on August 27, 2011.<ref name=NOAA/> [[File:Shuttle Replica Independence covered in snow.jpg|thumb|[[Space Shuttle Independence|Space Shuttle ''Independence'']] replica covered in snow, 2017]] Houston has mild winters, with occasional cold spells. In January, the normal mean temperature at George Bush Intercontinental Airport is {{convert|53|°F|0}}, with an average of 13 days per year with a low at or below {{Convert|32|°F|0}}, occurring on average between December 3 and February 20, allowing for a growing season of 286 days.<ref name=NOAA/> Twenty-first century snow events in Houston include a storm on [[2004 Christmas Eve Snowstorm|December 24, 2004]], which saw {{convert|1|in|cm|0}} of snow accumulate in parts of the metro area,<ref>National Weather Service Forecast Office, Houston/Galveston, Texas.{{cite web |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/projects/xmasevesnow04/pns_snowfalltotal.txt |title=Public Information Statement. |access-date=December 1, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212134359/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/projects/xmasevesnow04/pns_snowfalltotal.txt |archive-date=December 12, 2006}} Retrieved on December 1, 2006.</ref> and an event on December 7, 2017, which precipitated {{convert|0.7|in|cm|0}} of snowfall.<ref>Shayanian, Sara (December 8, 2017). "[https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2017/12/08/Texas-hit-with-snow-as-winter-weather-system-aims-for-Northeast/4591512735568/ Texas hit with snow as winter weather system aims for Northeast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208170658/https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2017/12/08/Texas-hit-with-snow-as-winter-weather-system-aims-for-Northeast/4591512735568/ |date=December 8, 2017 }}". ''[[United Press International]]''.</ref><ref>Matthews, Blake (December 8, 2017). "[http://www.khou.com/news/local/record-snow-blankets-houston-and-texas/497922280 Record snow blankets Houston and Texas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213090827/http://www.khou.com/news/local/record-snow-blankets-houston-and-texas/497922280 |date=December 13, 2017 }}". ''[[KHOU-TV]]''.</ref> Snowfalls of at least {{convert|1|in|cm}} on both December 10, 2008, and December 4, 2009, marked the first time measurable snowfall had occurred in two consecutive years in the city's recorded history. Overall, Houston has seen measurable snowfall 38 times between 1895 and 2018. On February 14 and 15, 1895, Houston received {{convert|20|in|cm|0}} of snow, its largest snowfall from one storm on record.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://abc13.com/amp/weather/snow-in-houston----it-happens-more-than-you-think/2753082/ |title=Snow in Houston: It Happens More Than You Think |publisher=KTRK-TV |date=December 8, 2017 |access-date=March 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127030850/http://abc13.com/amp/weather/snow-in-houston----it-happens-more-than-you-think/2753082/ |archive-date=January 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The coldest temperature officially recorded in Houston was {{convert|5|°F|0}} on January 18, 1930.<ref name=NOAA/> The last time Houston saw single digit temperatures was on December 23, 1989. The temperature dropped to {{convert|7|°F|0}} at Bush Airport, marking the coldest temperature ever recorded there. 1.7 inches of snow fell at George Bush Intercontinental Airport the previous day.<ref>[https://www.click2houston.com/weather/2019/01/30/when-was-the-coldest-day-ever-in-houston/ KPRC]</ref> Houston generally receives ample rainfall, averaging about {{convert|49.8|in|abbr=on}} annually based on records between 1981 and 2010. Many parts of the city have a high risk of localized flooding due to flat topography,<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/08/31/547575113/three-reasons-houston-was-a-sitting-duck-for-harvey-flooding |title=3 Reasons Houston Was A 'Sitting Duck' For Harvey Flooding |last=Schaper |first=David |date=August 31, 2017 |work=NPR |access-date=March 26, 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327084359/https://www.npr.org/2017/08/31/547575113/three-reasons-houston-was-a-sitting-duck-for-harvey-flooding |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> ubiquitous low-[[Permeability (earth sciences)|permeability]] clay-silt prairie soils,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/investigations/harvey-urban-planning/ |title=How Houston's 'Wild West' growth may have contributed to devastating flooding |last1=Boburg |first1=Shawn |last2=Reinhard |first2=Beth |date=August 29, 2017 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en |access-date=March 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327084606/https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/investigations/harvey-urban-planning/ |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> and inadequate infrastructure.<ref name=":7" /> During the mid-2010s, Greater Houston experienced consecutive major flood events in 2015 ([[2015 Texas–Oklahoma flood and tornado outbreak|"Memorial Day"]]),<ref name="Ramirez">{{Cite news |url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-weather/article/Remembering-the-Memorial-Day-Flood-one-America-s-11176375.php |title=Remembering Houston's Memorial Day Flood, one of America's costliest floods |last=Ramirez |first=Fernando |date=May 26, 2017 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=March 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327212054/https://www.chron.com/news/houston-weather/article/Remembering-the-Memorial-Day-Flood-one-America-s-11176375.php |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> 2016 ([[April 2016 North American storm complex|"Tax Day"]]),<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/tax-day-flood/article/Revisiting-Houston-s-Tax-Day-Floods-one-year-later-11077890.php |title=Revisiting Houston's Tax Day Floods one year later |last=Perera |first=John Henry |date=April 17, 2017 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=March 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327212021/https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/tax-day-flood/article/Revisiting-Houston-s-Tax-Day-Floods-one-year-later-11077890.php |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> and 2017 ([[Hurricane Harvey]]).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2017/aug/26/hurricane-harvey-makes-landfall-in-texas-latest-updates |title=Hurricane Harvey makes landfall in Texas |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=August 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826024231/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2017/aug/26/hurricane-harvey-makes-landfall-in-texas-latest-updates |archive-date=August 26, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Overall, there have been more casualties and property loss from floods in Houston than in any other locality in the United States.<ref name="Dart">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/16/texas-flooding-houston-climate-change-disaster |title=Houston fears climate change will cause catastrophic flooding: 'It's not if, it's when' |last=Dart |first=Tom |date=June 16, 2017 |website=The Guardian |language=en |access-date=March 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310105505/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/16/texas-flooding-houston-climate-change-disaster |archive-date=March 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The majority of rainfall occurs between April and October (the wet season of Southeast Texas), when the moisture from the Gulf of Mexico evaporates extensively over the city.<ref name="Ramirez"/><ref name="Dart"/> Houston has excessive [[ozone]] levels and is routinely ranked among the most ozone-polluted cities in the United States.<ref>"[http://www.lung.org/assets/documents/publications/state-of-the-air/state-of-the-air-report-2005.pdf State of the Air 2005, National and Regional Analysis] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428171714/http://www.lung.org/assets/documents/publications/state-of-the-air/state-of-the-air-report-2005.pdf |date=April 28, 2012 }}", American Lung Association, page 26, March 25, 2005. Retrieved on February 17, 2006.</ref> Ground-level ozone, or smog, is Houston's predominant air pollution problem, with the [[American Lung Association]] rating the metropolitan area's ozone level twelfth on the "Most Polluted Cities by Ozone" in 2017, after major cities such as [[Los Angeles]], [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], [[New York City]], and [[Denver]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/sota/city-rankings/most-polluted-cities.html |title=How healthy is the air you breathe? |access-date=July 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728191912/http://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/sota/city-rankings/most-polluted-cities.html |archive-date=July 28, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The industries along the ship channel are a major cause of the city's air pollution.<ref name="cleanhouston">"[http://www.cleanhouston.org/air/index.htm Summary of the Issues] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210193216/http://www.cleanhouston.org/air/index.htm |date=February 10, 2006 }}", Citizens League for Environmental Action Now, August 1, 2004. Retrieved on February 17, 2006.</ref> The rankings are in terms of peak-based standards, focusing strictly on the worst days of the year; the average ozone levels in Houston are lower than what is seen in most other areas of the country, as dominant winds ensure clean, marine air from the Gulf.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://theconversation.com/the-paradox-of-peak-based-ozone-air-pollution-standards-59300 |title=The paradox of peak-based ozone air pollution standards |last=Czader |first=Beata |date=May 20, 2016 |work=The Conversation |access-date=November 13, 2017 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031215252/http://theconversation.com/the-paradox-of-peak-based-ozone-air-pollution-standards-59300 |archive-date=October 31, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Excessive man-made emissions in the Houston area led to a persistent increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide over the city. Such an increase, often regarded as "CO<sub>2</sub> urban dome", is driven by a combination of strong emissions and stagnant atmospheric conditions. Moreover, Houston is the only metropolitan area with less than ten million citizens where such a CO<sub>2</sub> dome can be detected by satellites.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Labzovskii|first1=Lev|last2=Jeong|first2=Su-Jong|last3=Parazoo|first3=Nicholas C.|date=2019|title=Working towards confident spaceborne monitoring of carbon emissions from cities using Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2|journal=Remote Sensing of Environment|volume=233|at=111359|doi=10.1016/j.rse.2019.111359|bibcode=2019RSEnv.23311359L|s2cid=202176909}}</ref> {{Houston weatherbox}} {{Weather box | location = Houston ([[William P. Hobby Airport]]), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1930–present | collapsed = Y | single line = Y |Jan avg record high F = 78.2 |Feb avg record high F = 80.6 |Mar avg record high F = 84.3 |Apr avg record high F = 87.8 |May avg record high F = 92.5 |Jun avg record high F = 96.4 |Jul avg record high F = 98.1 |Aug avg record high F = 99.3 |Sep avg record high F = 96.1 |Oct avg record high F = 91.4 |Nov avg record high F = 84.7 |Dec avg record high F = 80.5 |year avg record high F = 100.2 | Jan high F = 63.8 | Feb high F = 67.6 | Mar high F = 73.4 | Apr high F = 79.3 | May high F = 85.9 | Jun high F = 91.0 | Jul high F = 92.9 | Aug high F = 93.5 | Sep high F = 89.3 | Oct high F = 82.1 | Nov high F = 72.6 | Dec high F = 65.7 | year high F = 79.8 | Jan mean F = 55.0 | Feb mean F = 58.9 | Mar mean F = 64.7 | Apr mean F = 70.6 | May mean F = 77.6 | Jun mean F = 83.0 | Jul mean F = 84.8 | Aug mean F = 85.1 | Sep mean F = 81.1 | Oct mean F = 73.0 | Nov mean F = 63.3 | Dec mean F = 56.9 | year mean F = | Jan low F = 46.1 | Feb low F = 50.1 | Mar low F = 55.9 | Apr low F = 61.8 | May low F = 69.3 | Jun low F = 74.9 | Jul low F = 76.6 | Aug low F = 76.7 | Sep low F = 72.9 | Oct low F = 63.9 | Nov low F = 54.0 | Dec low F = 48.0 | year low F = 62.5 |Jan avg record low F = 30.5 |Feb avg record low F = 34.5 |Mar avg record low F = 38.7 |Apr avg record low F = 46.5 |May avg record low F = 57.2 |Jun avg record low F = 68.7 |Jul avg record low F = 72.3 |Aug avg record low F = 72.0 |Sep avg record low F = 62.2 |Oct avg record low F = 47.2 |Nov avg record low F = 36.8 |Dec avg record low F = 32.8 |year avg record low F = 28.4 | Jan record high F = 92 | Feb record high F = 93 | Mar record high F = 96 | Apr record high F = 94 | May record high F = 100 | Jun record high F = 105 | Jul record high F = 104 | Aug record high F = 109 | Sep record high F = 108 | Oct record high F = 96 | Nov record high F = 95 | Dec record high F = 94 | Jan record low F = 10 | Feb record low F = 14 | Mar record low F = 22 | Apr record low F = 36 | May record low F = 44 | Jun record low F = 56 | Jul record low F = 64 | Aug record low F = 66 | Sep record low F = 50 | Oct record low F = 33 | Nov record low F = 25 | Dec record low F = 9 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation inch = 4.09 | Feb precipitation inch = 2.85 | Mar precipitation inch = 3.28 | Apr precipitation inch = 4.08 | May precipitation inch = 5.42 | Jun precipitation inch = 6.09 | Jul precipitation inch = 4.59 | Aug precipitation inch = 5.44 | Sep precipitation inch = 5.76 | Oct precipitation inch = 5.78 | Nov precipitation inch = 3.90 | Dec precipitation inch = 4.34 | year precipitation inch = 55.62 |unit precipitation days = 0.01 in |Jan precipitation days = 10.2 |Feb precipitation days = 8.9 |Mar precipitation days = 8.3 |Apr precipitation days = 8.0 |May precipitation days = 7.7 |Jun precipitation days = 10.4 |Jul precipitation days = 9.2 |Aug precipitation days = 9.6 |Sep precipitation days = 9.8 |Oct precipitation days = 7.2 |Nov precipitation days = 8.4 |Dec precipitation days = 9.5 |source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA2> {{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00012918&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Houston Hobby AP, TX |access-date = November 30, 2023 }} </ref> |source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData> {{cite web |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=hgx |publisher = National Weather Service |title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Houston |access-date = November 30, 2023 }} </ref> }} [[File:Hurricane-Tropical Storm Harvey in Houston - August 27 2017 AM (36032737983).jpg|thumb|Flooded parking lot during Hurricane Harvey, August 2017]] Because of Houston's [[wet season]] and proximity to the [[Gulf Coast of the United States|Gulf Coast]], the city is prone to flooding from heavy rains; the most notable flooding events include [[Tropical Storm Allison]] in 2001 and [[Hurricane Harvey]] in 2017, along with most recent [[Tropical Storm Imelda]] in 2019 and [[Tropical Storm Beta (2020)|Tropical Storm Beta]] in 2020. In response to Hurricane Harvey, Mayor Sylvester Turner of Houston initiated plans to require developers to build homes that will be less susceptible to flooding by raising them two feet above the [[100-year flood|500-year floodplain]]. Hurricane Harvey damaged hundreds of thousands of homes and dumped trillions of gallons of water into the city.<ref name="regulations">{{Cite web|last1=Cardenas|first1=Cat|last2=Formby|first2=Brandon|work=The Texas Tribune|date=April 4, 2018 |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/04/houston-city-council-approves-changes-floodplain-regulations-narrow-vo/ |title=Houston council approves changes to floodplain regulations in effort to reduce flood damage |access-date=January 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609023026/https://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/04/houston-city-council-approves-changes-floodplain-regulations-narrow-vo/ |archive-date=June 9, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In places this led to feet of standing water that blocked streets and flooded homes. The Houston City Council passed this regulation in 2018 with a vote of 9–7. Had these floodplain development rules had been in place all along, it is estimated that 84% of homes in the 100-year and 500-year floodplains would have been spared damage.{{dubious|date=January 2020}}<ref name="regulations" /> In a recent case testing these regulations, near the Brickhouse Gulley, an old golf course that long served as a floodplain and reservoir for floodwaters, announced a change of heart toward intensifying development.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://slate.com/business/2018/08/houston-one-year-after-hurricane-harvey-is-at-a-crossroads.html |title=And the Waters Will Prevail |journal=Slate |date=August 30, 2018 |access-date=November 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106183516/https://slate.com/business/2018/08/houston-one-year-after-hurricane-harvey-is-at-a-crossroads.html |archive-date=November 6, 2019 |url-status=live |last1=Grabar |first1=Henry }}</ref> A nationwide developer, [[Meritage Homes]], bought the land and planned to develop the 500-year floodplain into 900 new residential homes. Their plan would bring in $360 million in revenue and boost city population and tax revenue. In order to meet the new floodplain regulations, the developers needed to elevate the lowest floors two feet above the 500-year floodplain, equivalent to five or six feet above the 100-year base flood elevation, and build a channel to direct stormwater runoff toward detention basins. Before Hurricane Harvey, the city had bought $10.7 million in houses in this area specifically to take them out of danger. In addition to developing new streets and single-family housing within a floodplain, a flowing flood-water stream termed a floodway runs through the development area, a most dangerous place to encounter during any future flooding event.<ref name="billion">{{Cite news |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/What-s-in-a-floodway-In-Houston-20-000-12409821.php |title=What's in Houston's worst flood zones? Development worth $13.5 billion |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |date=December 6, 2017 |access-date=November 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203071619/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/What-s-in-a-floodway-In-Houston-20-000-12409821.php |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |url-status=live |last1=Dempsey |first1=Mark Collette }}</ref> Under Texas law [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]], like other more rural Texas counties, cannot direct developers where to build or not build via land use controls such as a zoning ordinance, and instead can only impose general floodplain regulations for enforcement during subdivision approvals and building permit approvals.<ref name="billion" /> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. 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