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Austin vs Houston weather: climate comparison
Houston is the warmer of the two, averaging 70°F (21°C) over the year against 70°F (21°C) in Austin. Houston is wetter, with 54.0 in (1372 mm) of precipitation a year to Austin's 38.1 in (968 mm). Below: every month side by side, from 30 years of ERA5 data (1996–2025).
- Mean temperature
- 20.9°C Austin
21.3°C Houston - Annual precipitation
- 968.1 mm Austin
1372.4 mm Houston - Rainy days a year
- 98 Austin
132 Houston - Sunshine per day
- 9.3 h Austin
9.3 h Houston
Month by month
| Month | Austin | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| January | 16.0°C | 16.9°C |
| February | 18.1°C | 18.8°C |
| March | 22.3°C | 22.2°C |
| April | 26.2°C | 25.7°C |
| May | 29.7°C | 29.4°C |
| June | 33.0°C | 32.0°C |
| July | 34.6°C | 32.9°C |
| August | 35.3°C | 33.5°C |
| September | 31.8°C | 31.0°C |
| October | 27.1°C | 27.1°C |
| November | 21.1°C | 21.8°C |
| December | 17.1°C | 18.1°C |
Year at a glance
| Measure | Austin | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual temperature | 20.9°C | 21.3°C |
| Warmest month (avg high) | Aug · 35°C | Aug · 33°C |
| Coldest month (avg low) | Jan · 6°C | Jan · 8°C |
| Annual range (warmest high − coldest low) | 29°C | 26°C |
| Annual precipitation | 968.1 mm | 1372.4 mm |
| Rainy days per year | 98 | 132 |
| Wettest / driest month | May / Jul | Sep / Feb |
| Average sunshine per day | 9.3 h | 9.3 h |
In short: Houston is the warmest overall (21.3°C mean); Houston gets the most precipitation (1372.4 mm a year); Houston is the sunniest (9.3 h a day on average); Houston has the smallest swing between its warmest and coldest months.
Record high 1996–2025: Austin 42.4°C (2011-08-28), Houston 41.7°C (2000-09-04). Record low: Austin -15.3°C (2021-02-16), Houston -10.9°C (2021-02-16).
Source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (CC BY 4.0). Values are ERA5 reanalysis model data on a ~9–25 km grid, not readings from a weather station, so a single town’s thermometer can differ by a few degrees and local showers can be missed. Monthly means of daily ERA5 values, 1996–2025, for the grid cells nearest Austin (30.26, -97.69) and Houston (29.77, -95.33).
Which months differ most?
The gap in average highs is widest in August, when Austin runs 3°F / 2°C warmer, and narrowest in October (0°F / 0°C apart). The biggest rainfall difference is in July: Houston gets 2.5 in (65 mm) more on average.
Add a third or fourth city, or swap in any other place, in the full comparison tool. For one city in depth, see the Austin climate and Houston climate pages.
Compare Austin or Houston with another city
Questions people ask
Is Austin warmer than Houston?
Houston is warmer on average: its mean annual temperature is 70°F (21°C) against 70°F (21°C) in Austin (ERA5, 1996–2025).
Which gets more rain, Austin or Houston?
Houston, with about 54.0 in (1372 mm) of precipitation a year and 132 days with at least 1 mm, compared with 38.1 in (968 mm) and 98 days in Austin.
Which is sunnier, Austin or Houston?
Houston averages more sunshine: 9.3 h a day against 9.3 h. Sunshine duration is modelled from cloud cover.
How reliable is this comparison?
Both cities use the same 30-year reanalysis, so differences are consistent. Absolute values describe a grid cell several kilometres wide and can differ by a degree or two from the airport station.