Best Time to Visit Houston

United States · Humid Subtropical climate · Data averaged from 2020-01-01 to 2024-12-31 (5 years)

Best time to visit Houston — city climate guide photo
City photo: dbking — via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Recommended Months

Based on temperature comfort, low precipitation, and sunshine hours, the best time to visit Houston is:

October → May → April

October scores 61/100 — the highest-rated month for travel.

Monthly Ratings (0-100)

Scores are weighted: temperature comfort (50%), low precipitation (30%), sunshine (20%). Higher is better.

MonthOverall ScoreTemp ComfortPrecipitationSunshineBar
January 24 48 0 0
February 26 51 0 0
March 38 76 0 0
April 45 90 0 0
May 46 92 0 0
June 38 76 0 0
July 37 74 0 0
August 35 70 0 0
September 42 83 0 0
October 48 96 0 0
November 36 72 0 0
December 30 60 0 0

Monthly Temperature Comfort

MonthMean TempComfort Level
January 12.6°C (54.7°F) Mild (10-17°C)
February 13.2°C (55.8°F) Mild (10-17°C)
March 18.2°C (64.8°F) Warm (18-24°C)
April 20.9°C (69.6°F) Warm (18-24°C)
May 24.6°C (76.3°F) Warm (18-24°C)
June 27.7°C (81.9°F) Hot (25-29°C)
July 28.3°C (82.9°F) Hot (25-29°C)
August 28.9°C (84.0°F) Hot (25-29°C)
September 26.4°C (79.5°F) Hot (25-29°C)
October 22.3°C (72.1°F) Warm (18-24°C)
November 17.4°C (63.3°F) Mild (10-17°C)
December 15.1°C (59.2°F) Mild (10-17°C)

Monthly Precipitation Rating

MonthRainfall (mm)Rainy DaysRating
January 182.2 mm 14.6 Very Wet
February 82.6 mm 15.2 Wet
March 120.8 mm 19.6 Very Wet
April 174.5 mm 19.8 Very Wet
May 230.6 mm 21.2 Very Wet
June 162.5 mm 21.2 Very Wet
July 263.8 mm 24.2 Very Wet
August 125.6 mm 19.4 Very Wet
September 150.0 mm 17.2 Very Wet
October 122.9 mm 12.4 Very Wet
November 151.2 mm 12.8 Very Wet
December 172.6 mm 15.2 Very Wet

Monthly Sunshine Rating

MonthSunshine (hrs/day)Rating
January 6.8 hrs Good
February 7.0 hrs Good
March 7.7 hrs Good
April 8.5 hrs Excellent
May 9.4 hrs Excellent
June 11.2 hrs Excellent
July 10.4 hrs Excellent
August 11.0 hrs Excellent
September 10.0 hrs Excellent
October 9.3 hrs Excellent
November 7.5 hrs Good
December 7.2 hrs Good

Season-by-Season Breakdown

Spring (Mar-May)

Temperature: 21.2°C (70.2°F)

Rainfall: 175.3mm avg

Sunshine: 8.5 hrs/day

Humidity: 77.6%

Rainy Days: 20.2/mo

Mild transitional weather — comfortable for most activities.

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Temperature: 28.3°C (82.9°F)

Rainfall: 184.0mm avg

Sunshine: 10.9 hrs/day

Humidity: 77.0%

Rainy Days: 21.6/mo

This is the warm season. Ideal for outdoor activities but be prepared for heat.

Autumn (Sep-Nov)

Temperature: 22.0°C (71.6°F)

Rainfall: 141.4mm avg

Sunshine: 8.9 hrs/day

Humidity: 73.7%

Rainy Days: 14.1/mo

This is the warm season. Ideal for outdoor activities but be prepared for heat.

Winter (Dec-Feb)

Temperature: 13.6°C (56.5°F)

Rainfall: 145.8mm avg

Sunshine: 7.0 hrs/day

Humidity: 75.6%

Rainy Days: 15.0/mo

Mild transitional weather — comfortable for most activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time to visit Houston?

Based on our data-driven analysis, the best months to visit Houston are October, May, April, when temperatures are comfortable, rainfall is lower, and sunshine is plentiful. October scores 61/100, the highest-rated month.

What is the hottest month in Houston?

August is the hottest month with an average temperature of 28.9°C (84.0°F).

What is the coldest month in Houston?

January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 12.6°C (54.7°F).

When is the rainy season in Houston?

July is the wettest month with an average of 263.8mm of precipitation. Houston experiences about 213.0 rainy days per year. The driest month is February with 82.6mm.

What should I pack for a trip to Houston?

Packing recommendations depend on the season of your visit. Based on the climate data, pack lightweight, breathable clothing if visiting during the warm months (August is hottest at 28.9°C). For cooler months, bring layers and a warm jacket (January averages 12.6°C). A waterproof jacket or umbrella is recommended year-round as Houston receives 1939.0mm of annual precipitation. Sun protection is important, especially during months with high UV index.

Writer's Note — David Chen

If you're planning outdoor activities in Houston, accept that humidity is the third dimension of every weather reading. I ran Buffalo Bayou Park in May at 7am: 24°C but 90% humidity, like jogging through warm soup. June-September is genuinely oppressive — 34°C with 75% humidity, heat index pushing 40°C. Best outdoor windows: March-April and October-November, 22-26°C with manageable humidity. Hurricane season (August-September) can disrupt everything. Winter is mild but unpredictable — I once did a January bike ride in 25°C, then a February one in 5°C. Always check radar; Gulf storms intensify fast.

Data Source: Open-Meteo historical archive (2020-01-01 to 2024-12-31). Daily measurements aggregated into monthly climate normals. Coordinates: 29.76°, -95.37°. Timezone: America/Chicago. Last updated: 2026-07-30.