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Denver vs Houston weather: climate comparison
Houston is the warmer of the two, averaging 70°F (21°C) over the year against 49°F (10°C) in Denver. Houston is wetter, with 54.0 in (1372 mm) of precipitation a year to Denver's 18.7 in (474 mm). Below: every month side by side, from 30 years of ERA5 data (1996–2025).
- Mean temperature
- 9.6°C Denver
21.3°C Houston - Annual precipitation
- 474.1 mm Denver
1372.4 mm Houston - Rainy days a year
- 81 Denver
132 Houston - Sunshine per day
- 10.5 h Denver
9.3 h Houston
Month by month
| Month | Denver | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| January | 4.9°C | 16.9°C |
| February | 6.0°C | 18.8°C |
| March | 11.2°C | 22.2°C |
| April | 15.2°C | 25.7°C |
| May | 20.4°C | 29.4°C |
| June | 27.3°C | 32.0°C |
| July | 30.6°C | 32.9°C |
| August | 29.3°C | 33.5°C |
| September | 25.5°C | 31.0°C |
| October | 17.9°C | 27.1°C |
| November | 10.8°C | 21.8°C |
| December | 5.4°C | 18.1°C |
Year at a glance
| Measure | Denver | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual temperature | 9.6°C | 21.3°C |
| Warmest month (avg high) | Jul · 31°C | Aug · 33°C |
| Coldest month (avg low) | Jan · -9°C | Jan · 8°C |
| Annual range (warmest high − coldest low) | 40°C | 26°C |
| Annual precipitation | 474.1 mm | 1372.4 mm |
| Rainy days per year | 81 | 132 |
| Wettest / driest month | May / Dec | Sep / Feb |
| Average sunshine per day | 10.5 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); Denver is the sunniest (10.5 h a day on average); Houston has the smallest swing between its warmest and coldest months.
Record high 1996–2025: Denver 38.7°C (2025-06-21), Houston 41.7°C (2000-09-04). Record low: Denver -36.5°C (2024-01-16), 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 Denver (39.75, -105.02) and Houston (29.77, -95.33).
Which months differ most?
The gap in average highs is widest in February, when Houston runs 23°F / 13°C warmer, and narrowest in July (4°F / 2°C apart). The biggest rainfall difference is in September: Houston gets 4.1 in (104 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 Denver climate and Houston climate pages.
Compare Denver or Houston with another city
Questions people ask
Is Denver warmer than Houston?
Houston is warmer on average: its mean annual temperature is 70°F (21°C) against 49°F (10°C) in Denver (ERA5, 1996–2025).
Which gets more rain, Denver or Houston?
Houston, with about 54.0 in (1372 mm) of precipitation a year and 132 days with at least 1 mm, compared with 18.7 in (474 mm) and 81 days in Denver.
Which is sunnier, Denver or Houston?
Denver averages more sunshine: 10.5 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.