WeatherArchive / Compare cities / Houston vs Washington, D.C.
Houston vs Washington, D.C. weather: climate comparison
Houston is the warmer of the two, averaging 70°F (21°C) over the year against 57°F (14°C) in Washington, D.C.. Houston is wetter, with 54.0 in (1372 mm) of precipitation a year to Washington, D.C.'s 45.5 in (1157 mm). Below: every month side by side, from 30 years of ERA5 data (1996–2025).
- Mean temperature
- 21.3°C Houston
14.0°C Washington, D.C. - Annual precipitation
- 1372.4 mm Houston
1156.6 mm Washington, D.C. - Rainy days a year
- 132 Houston
120 Washington, D.C. - Sunshine per day
- 9.3 h Houston
8.9 h Washington, D.C.
Month by month
| Month | Houston | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|
| January | 16.9°C | 5.9°C |
| February | 18.8°C | 8.1°C |
| March | 22.2°C | 12.8°C |
| April | 25.7°C | 18.8°C |
| May | 29.4°C | 23.5°C |
| June | 32.0°C | 28.6°C |
| July | 32.9°C | 30.9°C |
| August | 33.5°C | 29.6°C |
| September | 31.0°C | 25.9°C |
| October | 27.1°C | 19.7°C |
| November | 21.8°C | 13.4°C |
| December | 18.1°C | 8.2°C |
Year at a glance
| Measure | Houston | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual temperature | 21.3°C | 14.0°C |
| Warmest month (avg high) | Aug · 33°C | Jul · 31°C |
| Coldest month (avg low) | Jan · 8°C | Jan · -2°C |
| Annual range (warmest high − coldest low) | 26°C | 33°C |
| Annual precipitation | 1372.4 mm | 1156.6 mm |
| Rainy days per year | 132 | 120 |
| Wettest / driest month | Sep / Feb | Jul / Nov |
| Average sunshine per day | 9.3 h | 8.9 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: Houston 41.7°C (2000-09-04), Washington, D.C. 41.1°C (2012-07-07). Record low: Houston -10.9°C (2021-02-16), Washington, D.C. -23.3°C (1996-02-05).
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 Washington, D.C. (38.91, -77.07).
Which months differ most?
The gap in average highs is widest in January, when Houston runs 20°F / 11°C warmer, and narrowest in July (4°F / 2°C apart). The biggest rainfall difference is in January: Houston gets 1.3 in (34 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 Washington, D.C. climate pages.
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Questions people ask
Is Houston warmer than Washington, D.C.?
Houston is warmer on average: its mean annual temperature is 70°F (21°C) against 57°F (14°C) in Washington, D.C. (ERA5, 1996–2025).
Which gets more rain, Houston or Washington, D.C.?
Houston, with about 54.0 in (1372 mm) of precipitation a year and 132 days with at least 1 mm, compared with 45.5 in (1157 mm) and 120 days in Washington, D.C..
Which is sunnier, Houston or Washington, D.C.?
Houston averages more sunshine: 9.3 h a day against 8.9 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.