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Houston vs Seattle weather: climate comparison
Houston is the warmer of the two, averaging 70°F (21°C) over the year against 52°F (11°C) in Seattle. Houston is wetter, with 54.0 in (1372 mm) of precipitation a year to Seattle's 50.2 in (1275 mm). Below: every month side by side, from 30 years of ERA5 data (1996–2025).
- Mean temperature
- 21.3°C Houston
10.9°C Seattle - Annual precipitation
- 1372.4 mm Houston
1274.6 mm Seattle - Rainy days a year
- 132 Houston
154 Seattle - Sunshine per day
- 9.3 h Houston
8.3 h Seattle
Month by month
| Month | Houston | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| January | 16.9°C | 7.3°C |
| February | 18.8°C | 8.4°C |
| March | 22.2°C | 10.6°C |
| April | 25.7°C | 13.4°C |
| May | 29.4°C | 16.9°C |
| June | 32.0°C | 20.0°C |
| July | 32.9°C | 24.0°C |
| August | 33.5°C | 24.2°C |
| September | 31.0°C | 20.4°C |
| October | 27.1°C | 14.6°C |
| November | 21.8°C | 9.8°C |
| December | 18.1°C | 6.9°C |
Year at a glance
| Measure | Houston | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual temperature | 21.3°C | 10.9°C |
| Warmest month (avg high) | Aug · 33°C | Aug · 24°C |
| Coldest month (avg low) | Jan · 8°C | Feb · 2°C |
| Annual range (warmest high − coldest low) | 26°C | 22°C |
| Annual precipitation | 1372.4 mm | 1274.6 mm |
| Rainy days per year | 132 | 154 |
| Wettest / driest month | Sep / Feb | Nov / Jul |
| Average sunshine per day | 9.3 h | 8.3 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); Seattle has the smallest swing between its warmest and coldest months.
Record high 1996–2025: Houston 41.7°C (2000-09-04), Seattle 37.9°C (2021-06-28). Record low: Houston -10.9°C (2021-02-16), Seattle -14.5°C (1996-01-30).
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 Houston (29.77, -95.33) and Seattle (47.63, -122.32).
Which months differ most?
The gap in average highs is widest in May, when Houston runs 22°F / 12°C warmer, and narrowest in July (16°F / 9°C apart). The biggest rainfall difference is in July: Houston gets 4.1 in (105 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 Houston climate and Seattle climate pages.
Compare Houston or Seattle with another city
Questions people ask
Is Houston warmer than Seattle?
Houston is warmer on average: its mean annual temperature is 70°F (21°C) against 52°F (11°C) in Seattle (ERA5, 1996–2025).
Which gets more rain, Houston or Seattle?
Houston, with about 54.0 in (1372 mm) of precipitation a year and 132 days with at least 1 mm, compared with 50.2 in (1275 mm) and 154 days in Seattle.
Which is sunnier, Houston or Seattle?
Houston averages more sunshine: 9.3 h a day against 8.3 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.