With the exception of the extreme southwest, Texas is primarily situated on the plains. Still, the semi-tropical coastal plain of the east is not considered a part of the geographical Great Plains (see Reference 2).
On the Texas plains, hot summers extend roughly from April through October, and winter is from November to March. Seasonal temperature extremes are common, with a record low recorded at minus-23 degrees Fahrenheit and a record high of 120 degrees (see Reference 1).
Rainfall amounts on the central plains average between 20 and 30 inches a year. Tornadoes are common during April and May (see Reference 2).
The air is dry in the western Great Plains of Texas, where rainfall averages between 16 and 20 inches a year. Because of the region's semi-arid landscape, dust storms are a common phenomenon (see Reference 2).
Cold northerly winds chill the Great Plains during the winter. Temperatures rise to levels above freezing, however, by the time these currents reach the state's southern coast (see Reference 3).
