Is Texas Dry Or Humid? (Climate and Regions)

Read In: 5 minutes

Texas has a unique climate that can change rapidly. A quote from news anchor Jessica Savitch sums it up quite nicely; “News events are like Texas weather; if you do not like, wait a minute.” But there is a common question that always gets asked! Is Texas dry or humid? Let’s find out.

The Texas climate is split into the west and east regions. It is dry(arid) in the west, receiving less than 9.7 inches of rain annually. The eastern part of Texas has a sub-tropical humid climate. The Texas humidity is affected by hurricanes, stalled weather fronts, and the Texas “Alamo.”

Stone desert desert landscape of a dry river bed in the mountains of Texas in Big Bend National Park cacti and desert plants. - Texas View

Does Texas Have A Dry Or Humid Climate

The Texas climate varies significantly from an arid (dry) environment in the west with little snow or rainfall. In the east, the climate is subtropical humid, with hot summers and mild to cool winters. 

Quick ways to identify the two areas are:

  • East of Interstate 35 is humid subtropical
  • West of Interstate 35 is arid (dry)

The National Climatic Data Center has divided Texas into ten climatic divisions due to its large size and varying weather conditions. Each division shares similar characteristics, such as humidity, temperature, and rainfall.

DivisionPlaceClimate
Div -1High PlainsSemi-arid savanna or continental steppe
Div -2Low Rolling PlainsSemi-arid savanna or sub-tropical steppe
Div -3Cross TimbersMixed savanna and woodlands, sub-tropical humid
Div -4Piney WoodsEvergreen, deciduous forests, sub-tropical humid
Div -5Trans – PecosSub-tropical arid desert
Div -6Edwards PlateauSemi-arid brushland and savanna, sub-tropical steppe
Div -7Post Oak SavannaMixed savanna, prairie, and woodlands, sub-tropical humid
Div -8Gulf Coast PlainsMarine marshes and prairies, sub-tropical humid
Div -9South Texas PlainsSemi-arid bushland, sub-tropical steppe
Div -10Lower Rio Grande ValleySub-humid marine, sub-tropical
Texas Climates for each location

 

Texas Cities With The Highest Humidity

The top five Texas cities with the highest average humidity are:

  1. South Padre Island – 84.12%
  2. Laguna Heights – 83.99%
  3. Laguna Vista – 83.83%
  4. Port Isabel – 83.78%
  5. Jones Creek – 83.37%
READ   Texas Is A Stop And Identify State, When ...
Dried Mud In Texas. Santa Elena Canyon And Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park. - Texas View

Texas Humidity, The Causes

Texas is the 2nd largest state in the USA. Due to its size, it has a variety of weather systems that will impact each region differently. Texas lies in the southwest, and its southern border is the Gulf of Mexico. So, its location and the warm water from the gulf bring on specific weather systems that affect humidity.  

The weather events contributing to the Texas humidity are often characterized as extreme. Texas is located in the tropical zone of our beautiful planet.

It is close to a large area of water and has high temperatures, which are prime conditions for extreme weather. The severe weather in Texas that affects humidity are:

Texas Tropical Cyclones Affect Humidity

Tropical cyclones that develop in the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean can affect the weather in the east and west of Texas. If these Tropical weather fronts run out of energy and stall, they can cause the humidity levels to rise drastically.

Texas Hurricanes Affect Humidity

These gigantic swirling storms are loaded full of energy that brings extreme wind and rain to the region, adversely affecting the Texas weather. Hurricanes carry masses of built-up energy from the southern hemisphere to the north.

The storm is fueled by warm moisture, which remains after the storm has dissipated. The added warm moisture in the air brings a harsh clime on the humidity scale, often lasting several days.

Stone desert desert landscape in the mountains in Texas in Big Bend National Park cacti and desert plants. - Texas View

The Texas “Alamo”

Stalled weather fronts in Texas are commonly referred to as the “Alamo, ” a common Texan weather event. This occurs when two weather fronts with different densities of temperatures, moisture, and humidity meet.

This will cause the two fronts to stall and balance each other out, resulting in a stationary weather system. A stationary weather system still has warm moisture, or fuel, trapped in it, resulting in high humidity on the ground.

Texas Tornado Alley

Texas sees more than 100 tornadoes a year in the Texas panhandle. Just like warm air plays a big role in humidity, so does cold air, especially when they meet. The different air masses collide due to the warm air rising through the colder air.

READ   Service Slowdown: The Factors Affecting Texas Service Center Efficiency

This, in turn, causes the different air masses (hot and cold) to scrimmage to achieve an equilibrium forming a tornado. The usually dry, cool air is filled with warm moisture at this stage. It can be carried over a vast distance through adiabatic cooling.

This cooling does not transfer the heat to the cool air but keeps the temperature constant. This results in extremely high humidity levels after the storm.

Texas nature. Plants under a coniferous tree near the visitor center of Texas. - Texas View

The Texas Dry Region

The dry region of Texas lies in the central-western and western parts of the state. It consists of the Chihuahuan Desert and a few isolated mountain ranges. The area has the most clear-weather days in the country during the fall, winter, and spring seasons.

With so many sunny days in this area, it is the driest in Texas, with an annual rainfall of 16 inches. A few mountain peaks receive snowfall in winter, but the lower elevations rarely see snow.

The arid climate causes desertification (expanding desert), sped up by overgrazing. This increases the region’s dry climate. Although this region is dry and hot, it still has a reasonable amount of humidity throughout the year.

Texas Dry Region Yearly Humidity Chart

The humidity levels below are the average levels recorded from 1981 to 2010.

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average humidity (%)514233272730444851474652
Average High Temp (F)57°63°70°78°87°95°94°92°88°79°67°58°
Average Low Temp (F)33°38°43°51°60°68°71°70°64°53°41°33°
Average rainfall (inches).40.46.26.23.47.941.52.11.5.61.49.77
Texas Temperatures for each month
Blossom Cosmos sulphureus or yellow sulfur cosmos with water drops at community garden near Dallas Texas America. Blooming flowers with buds and rain drops on long stem. - Texas View

Texas Climate FAQs

What Is The Driest Month In Texas?

The driest month in Eastern Texas is February, with an average rainfall of 2.8 inches. In West Texas, the driest month is March, with an average rainfall of 0.26 inches.

How To Cope With The High Texas Humidity

There are several ways to make the high Texas humidity bearable. Try the following:

  • Buy a humidifier
  • Wear cool, light clothes made from synthetics such as nylon
  • Ventilate the house by opening windows and doors
  • Take a cool shower
  • Drink plenty of water
READ   Is Texas PT, ET, EST, Or CT
Texas Weather and Climate

References:

Author Profile
Christian Linden Texas View Headshot 3 - Texas View
Author at Texas View | Texas View

Christian Linden is a seasoned writer and contributor at Texas View, specializing in topics that resonate with the Texan community. With over a decade of experience in journalism, Christian brings a wealth of knowledge in local politics, culture, and lifestyle. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of Texas. When he's not writing, Christian enjoys spending weekends traveling across Texas with his family, exploring everything from bustling cities to serene landscapes.

Share me 🙂

Read these ...