A year defined by heat

Houston’s weather in 2025 was a study in contrasts. It started with January snow, followed by a year that was, for the most part, hotter and drier than usual.

2025 began with a touch of winter magic. Snow in January gave kids a break from school as they enjoyed two days off. Yet that month was the only one to finish below average. The rest of the year was warmer. February through December were all above average in temperatures.

By the numbers: 2025 ranks as the second-warmest year in Houston going back to 1970.

Even more notable: the past three years are now the three warmest years on record. Those are climate-scale shifts people feel in their daily lives, longer AC runs, different outlooks for gardening and outdoor plans, and a growing awareness that what once felt unusual is becoming more common.

Heat records dominated the calendar. We set the record for the most 80-degree days ever recorded, 259 days at or above 80°, which is 71% of the year. Records go back to 1877!

Houston also set a record for 90-degree days, with 145 days reaching 90° or hotter. Those hot stretches are more than just numbers: they shape how we live, work, and play.

I put together a deep dive on these temperatures in a previous post. You can read it here.

Rainfall mostly lagged behind normal, too. Nine of the 12 months finished below average, and the city ended the year with a shortfall of just over 10 inches. Houston’s typical annual rainfall sits just under 52 inches; last year, we were about 7 inches above that average.

9 of 12 months were below average in rain (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)We end the year with a little more than a 10″ deficit in rain (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)

What comes next? Year-to-year swings will always happen, but when warm years cluster, it nudges conversations about how we plan city infrastructure, manage water resources, and adapt our routines.

What would you like the weather to be next year? Drop your hopes and questions in the comments or email me at ayanez@kprc.com.

Anthony’s Weather Lab

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