Dallas and Houston rank among the top 3 Texas cities with the best weather, but which one’s better?

Dallas has better weather than Houston since it’s generally cooler, windier, and sunnier. 

Dallas is also safer from extreme weather events like storms, tornadoes, floods, and wildfires.

Before we get into the specifics, here’s a general overview of how these cities compare.

Which city has better weather, Dallas or Houston?

Dallas has better weather than Houston. It’s cooler, windier, and sunnier, which is also why Dallas is worth visiting. 

Houston is warmer than Dallas, but it’s also more humid and cloudy and sees a lot more rain. 

When looking at the weather, there are six main components to consider: temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind speed, humidity, precipitation, and cloudiness. 

Temperature

Dallas is generally cooler than Houston. Dallas’ high average yearly temperature is 76°F, while its low average is 58°F. 

Houston’s high average, on the other hand, is 80°F while its low average is 63°F.

From June to August though, Dallas is either equal to or warmer than Houston by 1°F. Here’s a better look at the two cities’ average temperatures.

Atmospheric Pressure

Dallas has a lower average atmospheric pressure than Houston. Its average is 29.7 inHg, while Houston’s is 29.82 inHg.

However, Dallas’ average daily fluctuations are higher than Houston’s. Its pressure fluctuates by 0.29 inHg, while Houston’s is by 0.26 inHg. 

Atmospheric pressure is also an important weather indicator. It determines what the weather will be for the day.

Since Dallas’ pressure is generally lower and fluctuates more, you can expect the weather to be more unstable compared to Houston’s.

Wind Speed

Year-round, Dallas has a higher average wind speed than Houston. Dallas’ winds can reach a high of 11.8 mph and a low of 8 mph, with a yearly average of 9.97 mph.

Houston, then, has a high of 9.4 mph and a low of 6.2 mph, with a yearly average of 8.12 mph. 

Wind speed is used as an indicator of the severity of storms and the amount of pollution in a city. Dallas’ windiness is great for enjoying outdoor spaces like rooftop bars.

So while Dallas tends to have worse storms, it also disperses air pollutants more quickly. 

Here’s a better overview of the two cities’ wind speeds.

Humidity

Houston is more humid than Dallas. Its average daily relative humidity is 75% with a high of 90% and a low of 55%. 

Dallas’ average is 65% with a high of 82% and a low of 49%. Therefore, high temperatures are more tolerable in Houston thanks to its humid air compared to Dallas. 

Humidity is the fourth weather indicator, indicating cloudiness and air temperature. It’s measured through relative humidity, with >60% being high and <30% being low humidity.

Humidity and precipitation are very connected with one another. Precipitation refers to water falling out of the sky, whether it be in the form of rain, snow, or hale. 

High relative humidity is usually accompanied by rainfall. Since Houston is more humid than Dallas, it has a higher chance of rain, and these are usually stronger. 

In a year, Houston experiences a total of 105.6 days in which precipitation is observed, with rain averaging 3.6 inches of accumulated rainfall a month. Houston’s rain can reach as much as 4.6 inches and as little as 2.7 inches.

Dallas, on the other hand, has a total of 85.5 days of observed precipitation per year, with rain averaging 2.7 inches. Dallas’ rain can reach as much as 4.2 inches and as little as 1.5 inches.

Since it rains less in Dallas, it’s an ideal place for holding outdoor events like weddings and parties.

Here’s a better representation of both cities’ rainfall. 

Cloudiness

Houston is cloudier than Dallas, especially during the months of June to September. 

On average, Houston has a 59% chance of clear skies or skies where less than 60% is covered by clouds. Meanwhile, Dallas has a 63.6% chance of clear skies.

Cloudiness determines how warm and sunny the day will be. 

Extreme Weather in Dallas and Houston

Houston is more prone to extreme weather events and natural disasters than Dallas. Houston experiences more frequent and severe rainstorms, floods, and tornadoes.

Houston also has a higher risk of wildfires compared to Dallas.

Natural disasters are composed of rain and snowstorms, floods, tornadoes, and wildfires. 

Rainstorms and Floods

Starting with rainstorms and floods, Houston experiences more of it than Dallas. Houston has 105.6 days of rain a year, with an average of 3.6 inches of rainfall.

Dallas has 85.5 days of rain per year with an average of 2.7 inches of rainfall. This is one of the reasons why Houston is also at a higher risk of flooding than Dallas.

Houston has 80,311 properties with at least a 26% chance of experiencing severe floods, composing 31% of all Houston properties. Properties consist of residential, commercial, and social facilities.

Meanwhile, Dallas has 12,723 properties with a 26% chance or higher of severe floods, composing 7% of all the city’s properties. 

This may be because when it comes to flood preparation, Dallas has enacted more adaptive measures than Houston.

Snowstorms

Now, when it comes to snowstorms, both Dallas and Houston are equally safe. They both receive a scarce amount of snow, and both cities have had just one major snowstorm since 1989.

Tornadoes 

For tornadoes, Houston has more than Dallas. 

Houston is located near the Gulf of Mexico, making it prone to tropical storms and hurricanes. Dallas is located further north and is part of Tornado Alley, an area known for its frequent and severe tornadoes.

From 1950 to 2021, Houston has had a total of 242 tornadoes — the most of any city in Texas. Meanwhile, Dallas has had a total of 150 within the same time frame.

The chances of tornadoes forming are higher in both Houston and Dallas than in the rest of the country, according to the Tornado Index. 

The Tornado Index is an indicator of how likely tornadoes are to occur, with higher numbers meaning higher chances. Houston has a 377.41 rating and Dallas has a 335.92 rating.

Texas has a 208.58 rating while the rest of the country has an average of 136.45.

Wildfires 

Moving on to wildfires, Houston is at a higher risk than Dallas. Houston has 184,371 properties at risk, consisting of 31% of all the city’s properties.

Dallas, on the other hand, has 106,957 properties at risk, consisting of 35% of the city’s properties. 

While Dallas has a higher percentage of properties at risk, all of these are considered to be at a minor risk while Houston’s residential properties are placed at a moderate risk. 

This means there are more of Houston’s homes located near wildfire-prone areas like plants and vegetation compared to Dallas.

Here’s a better overview of these two cities’ extreme weather events.