Houston's Winter Chill Showers No Signs of Slowing Down
Residents in Southeast Texas are breathing a sigh of relief as the region has experienced two separate blasts of Arctic air, including sleet and freezing rain, last month. However, with temperatures now soaring into the 80s and nearing record levels for early February, it's tempting to think that winter is finally over.
But climatologists say not so fast. According to ABC13 Meteorologist Elyse Smith, while it's true that the average last day of freezing temperatures in Houston falls on February 13, history has shown that the area can still see temperatures at or below 32 degrees as late as April.
In fact, just three years ago, in 2023, temperatures dipped into the 30s in mid-March during spring break. This highlights the unpredictability of winter weather in Houston and the importance of being prepared for frost even when temperatures are above freezing.
Gardeners, take note: while the typical last frost date for Houston is March 3, frost can still form as late as early April. With well-above-normal temperatures forecasted for the next two weeks, it's essential to keep a close eye on weather conditions to avoid any potential damage to your plants.
The good news is that Houston's climatology does work in its favor when it comes to winter weather. But with just over a week's notice before the last winter storm brought freezing rain to the city, residents should be prepared for anything, even if the temperatures do seem to have swung out of control for now.
Residents in Southeast Texas are breathing a sigh of relief as the region has experienced two separate blasts of Arctic air, including sleet and freezing rain, last month. However, with temperatures now soaring into the 80s and nearing record levels for early February, it's tempting to think that winter is finally over.
But climatologists say not so fast. According to ABC13 Meteorologist Elyse Smith, while it's true that the average last day of freezing temperatures in Houston falls on February 13, history has shown that the area can still see temperatures at or below 32 degrees as late as April.
In fact, just three years ago, in 2023, temperatures dipped into the 30s in mid-March during spring break. This highlights the unpredictability of winter weather in Houston and the importance of being prepared for frost even when temperatures are above freezing.
Gardeners, take note: while the typical last frost date for Houston is March 3, frost can still form as late as early April. With well-above-normal temperatures forecasted for the next two weeks, it's essential to keep a close eye on weather conditions to avoid any potential damage to your plants.
The good news is that Houston's climatology does work in its favor when it comes to winter weather. But with just over a week's notice before the last winter storm brought freezing rain to the city, residents should be prepared for anything, even if the temperatures do seem to have swung out of control for now.
... like, yeah sure, temps were hitting 80s and all, but don't think for a sec that winter's over just yet 
! i mean, my plants are still recovering from those late march frosts last year... it's like, i get it, houston's got some crazy weather patterns, but can't we just have some decent spring season for once? 
anyway, back to gardening... has anyone else ever tried starting seeds indoors and then transferring them outside when the weather warms up? i've heard it's a game changer for getting a head start on the growing season 
. It's all about being prepared, you know? If you're a gardener, keep an eye on those temps, 'cause even if it's supposed to be warm, we can still get some unexpected chill 
.
I know we're still supposed to be in the 80s rn but like can't our weather just make up its mind already?! 
i mean i'm not trying to freak out or anything but i think it's so important for gardeners to keep an eye on those temps bc even if it does feel like spring now a lil frost can still come thru 
I'm thinking, what's up with Houston's weather?! One day it's like, brrr! 
! I mean, I get it, winter can be unpredictable, but come on, 80s in February?! 
) climatology going on, but still gotta keep an eye on the weather, ya know?! 
Plus, 80s temps aren't all sunshine and rainbows – we gotta be prepared for the flip side too 
. Anyways, let's just take it one day at a time and hope our little green friends can handle whatever Mother Nature throws their way 
So I'm reading about Houston's weird winter vibes and I gotta say, it's crazy how unpredictable the weather can be there! Like, yeah, we've seen two major blasts of Arctic air already, but it's still possible that winter can last a bit longer than expected. Three years ago, they had temps in the 30s in mid-March... that's like, totally not normal for this time of year! 
. But that's not even the wild part - they're predicting temps over 90°F by mid-March, which is insane for this time of year! 
Last month's Arctic air blast was just a taste of what's to come... and it's not slowing down anytime soon 
According to the National Weather Service, we're looking at an 80% chance of temperatures above freezing this month... but also an 80% chance of some crazy winter weather pop-up! 
. I mean, it's not like we haven't seen our fair share of freak storms already this year... but still, a girl can never be too prepared, right? 80s in February is definitely out of the ordinary for us, and I'm just waiting to see what other surprises Mother Nature has up her sleeve 
. So yeah, let's all stay frosty (pun intended) and keep an eye on those weather conditions! 
, one day its cold & sleetin', next it's like 80s and sunny 
... but hey, at least we got a heads up this time 
.
so yeah gardeners pls keep an eye out for any unexpected frosts, dont wanna lose ur precious plants