Roughly two-thirds of the state of Texas is considered to have a humid subtropical climate. This type of climate, which covers most of the southeastern United States, is characterized by sultry summers and mild winters. Warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico flows inland; its influence is strongest near the coast, and peters out into central Texas. Summers are usually stifling, with daily high temperatures reaching well into the 90s Fahrenheit and accompanying high humidity making it feel even hotter. Winter weather is changeable, with cold fronts and their corresponding drier air masses sometimes pushing into the region -- high temperatures can be in the 80s one day and the 40s the next. Additionally, this region receives more precipitation than any other part of the state. The greatest amount of precipitation occurs near the Louisiana border, with some areas receiving over 50 inches per year, whereas parts of central Texas receive half that amount. Overall, eastern and central Texas is the least-windy part of the state, with the exception of the occasional hurricane or tropical storm. Winter and early spring are the windiest times of year here, with the calmest period in summer.
The second-largest climate zone in Texas, west-central Texas and the Texas panhandle falls into the continental steppe climate category. Conditions here are semiarid, with less average precipitation and lower humidity than farther east. Summers are hot and winters mild. Temperature swings between daytime highs and nighttime lows can be quite drastic. The Panhandle experiences the most consistent winds of any area in the state, particularly the northern section. In fact, Amarillo is one of the windiest cities in the U.S., with an average annual wind speed of 13.5 mph.
Sandwiched between the borders with Mexico and New Mexico, the southwest corner of Texas is the driest in the state, and its climate is considered that of a true desert. This area, which includes the city of El Paso, receives on average less than 8 inches of rain per year. Southwest Texas experiences more than 300 days of sunshine annually, and humidity remains low year-round. However, temperatures can soar well into the 100s in the summertime, and thunderstorms can occasionally occur at this time of year.
In southwestern Texas, the higher elevations within the Guadalupe, Davis and Chisos mountain ranges experience different weather conditions than the surrounding landscape. Temperatures generally decrease with altitude, so the 8,000-foot mountain peaks are significantly cooler than the valleys. The higher elevations receive three to four times as much yearly precipitation as the surrounding plains. And mountain summits and passes are subject to very high winds.
