Palestine, Texas is a city in Anderson County situated in the central part of East Texas. As of 2010, Palestine's population is 17,798 people. It is home to a thriving health-care industry that tends to a large community of retirees. Palestine is located in the Piney Woods region of Texas within the humid subtropical climate zone. This region receives the most rainfall because of its location relative to the gulf currents that carry humid air.
The average rainfall is 43.33 inches. Palestine experienced 66.62 inches of rainfall in 2009. The length of the growing season is 264 days.
Temperatures usually range from a high average of 94 degrees in July and August, to a low of 37 degrees in January. The maximum average precipitation is in October. There are four months in Palestine when the daily high temperature is above 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Monthly rainfall averages between 3 and 4 inches for most of the year, with averages of about 4 1/2 inches in May, June, October and November.
Record-high heat and record-low rainfall in 2009 pushed Texas to its most severe drought in 50 years. Palestine was among the cities experiencing dryness, but its lack of rainfall wasn't as severe as surrounding areas in East Texas, reaching about 30 percent of its normal rainfall. Palestine typically receives more rainfall than other areas because of gulf currents that carry humid air.
