Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Houston experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 35°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. The area gets 293 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 46.3 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 12.8 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 50 feet.
Temperature
35°F Jan (1°C)77°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average
55.4°F
3% above US avg
January Average
35°F (1°C)
July Average
77°F (25°C)
Sunny Days
293 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
50 ft (15 m)
Area
0.3 sq mi (0.9 km²)
Population Density
1,200/sq mi
Coordinates
38.9173°N, 75.5039°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Caroline County County
Nearest Airport
Cambridge-Dorchester Regional (CGE) 39 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall46.3"
22% above US avg
Snowfall12.8"
Wettest Month (Jul)4.29"
Driest Month (Feb)3.03"
Air Quality
AQI Median
41.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
45.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability
58.7 / 100
Community Resilience
56.0 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Very Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Moderate
Lightning
Relatively Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively High
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
11 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.2.
Oct 23, 1990
3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey
M3.2
66 km
10 km
Jul 1, 2009
3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey
M2.8
81 km
5 km
Mar 15, 1993
5 km W of Columbia, Maryland
M2.7
125 km
5 km
Oct 28, 1994
1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland
M2.7
104 km
—
Jan 25, 2015
4 km ESE of Downingtown, Pennsylvania
M2.6
121 km
2 km
Jan 13, 1990
6 km ENE of Eldersburg, Maryland
M2.6
131 km
5 km
Jun 25, 2021
2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland
M2.6
113 km
3 km
Jul 5, 1996
2 km NW of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania
M2.6
110 km
18 km
Feb 9, 2023
29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia
M2.6
106 km
11 km
Mar 10, 1993
3 km WSW of Columbia, Maryland
M2.5
124 km
5 km
Feb 26, 1993
2 km SW of Marlton, New Jersey
M2.5
117 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
9 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 3.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2014
Arthur
Category 1
92 mph
228 km
2012
Sandy
Category 1
92 mph
212 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
75 mph
101 km
1999
Floyd
Category 1
—
241 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 1
75 mph
268 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
115 mph
257 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
115 mph
209 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
171 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
98 mph
104 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
250 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 7 fatalities, 143 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 1, 2023
EF3
21 km
14.3 mi
1
Sep 1, 2021
EF3
87 km
12.4 mi
0
Apr 28, 2002
EF3
89 km
18.0 mi
0
Jul 27, 1994
EF3
93 km
4.0 mi
0
Apr 28, 1961
EF3
84 km
0.3 mi
0
Sep 1, 2021
EF2
95 km
11.4 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
21 km
35.8 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
57 km
1.3 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
92 km
3.8 mi
0
Apr 15, 2019
EF2
39 km
6.2 mi
0
Jul 23, 2017
EF2
73 km
2.4 mi
0
Sep 28, 2004
EF2
85 km
5.0 mi
0
May 2, 2002
EF2
92 km
4.5 mi
0
May 18, 1995
EF2
43 km
10.0 mi
0
Jul 27, 1994
EF2
65 km
4.0 mi
0
Jul 27, 1994
EF2
91 km
7.0 mi
0
Sep 27, 1993
EF2
71 km
10.0 mi
0
Aug 21, 1993
EF2
99 km
1.5 mi
0
Jul 31, 1992
EF2
12 km
4.0 mi
0
Oct 18, 1990
EF2
96 km
1.0 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1840
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Earthquake
—
—
102 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: BESTPITCH (7,743 acres, 2017).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2017
BESTPITCH
7,743
73 km
2004
RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH
5,678
77 km
2014
BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14
5,433
76 km
2005
MARSH RX-FWS
4,380
73 km
2007
GUINEA MARSH
4,173
73 km
2009
DOCTORS CREEK
3,686
72 km
1999
FB R O C I
3,525
77 km
2019
MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT
3,197
75 km
2011
COMPARTMENT J
2,775
76 km
2005
ISLAND CREEK
2,729
73 km
2004
UNNAMED
2,156
73 km
1992
UNNAMED
2,038
71 km
2005
VEGETATION RESEARCH
1,926
70 km
2011
THOROFARE
1,850
71 km
1987
UNNAMED
1,692
76 km
2004
ROBBINS FIRE
1,612
79 km
1988
SLAU BCH 2
1,578
19 km
2020
SPLIT DITCH
1,518
57 km
2004
BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION
1,518
76 km
2020
BIG TIMBER
1,434
96 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
35°F (1°C)
3.8 in
Coldest
February
36°F (2°C)
3.0 in
Driest
March
44°F (7°C)
4.3 in
April
53°F (12°C)
3.5 in
May
63°F (17°C)
4.1 in
June
72°F (22°C)
3.6 in
July
77°F (25°C)
4.3 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
75°F (24°C)
4.3 in
September
68°F (20°C)
4.0 in
October
57°F (14°C)
3.3 in
November
48°F (9°C)
3.3 in
December
39°F (4°C)
3.5 in
Houston has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 35°F in January to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.9 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (3.0").