This week, Houston hit a record, but not the kind we celebrate. We’ve now logged the most 80°+ days in a single year… and we still have more than a month left, with more 80s on the way.
What really stands out is that every top year for 80-degree days has happened since 2012. That’s based on records going all the way back to 1877, more than 140 years of data.
But honestly, what fascinated me most wasn’t the record itself. It was the reaction from so many of you on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. So in today’s newsletter, I’m taking a closer look at your comments and what this record really says about our weather.
Matt Wilson stated:
“Funny because the summer was pretty mild. The problem is, it’s been a mild summer since May, and it’s still going in mid-November.”
Kelvin Caban said:
“It’s had less peaks (that I noticed) but on average higher temps. Very annoying. Let me get that good fall weather.”
Amy Pond exclaimed:
“I hate it here. I gotta move. I shouldn’t be wanting to jump into a swimming pool in the middle of November.”
The chart above breaks down the top eight years with the most 80° days in Houston. There are two big reasons why we set the record this year: how early the warmth started and how long it has stuck around.
You’ll notice I circled February and October. We jumped into the 80s unusually early in the year, and we’ve held onto them deep into the fall. We saw a similar pattern in 2024, with plenty of 80s late into October and November. And 2017 also got an early jump, with 12 days above 80° in February alone.
One more interesting detail: the final year on that list is 1908. That’s the only one in the top eight that isn’t from the last two decades.
Lawrence Lopez said:
“On average, yes, but didn’t seem to feature a lot of blistering heat days.”
Carols Lerma asked:
“80’s are the new 70’s. Do you have stats for 90’s and 100’s?”
Why yes, I do Carlos. The graphic above highlights the years with the most 90° days in Houston, and once again, 2025 sits at the top of the list. Not exactly the kind of win we’re hoping for.
Another noteworthy detail: only two years appear in the top five for both the most 80° and 90° days, 2025 and 2024. That’s a pretty clear signal of just how consistently warm our recent years have been.
A few things really stand out when you look at how those 90° days were distributed throughout the year. First, among the top five years, 2025 had the earliest 90° day, all the way back in March. Then July turned into a clean sweep, with every single day topping 90°. And just like 2024, we logged the most 90° days in October.
Houston continues to trend warmer, not just with extreme heat in the summer, but with warmth stretching earlier into the year and lasting well into fall. That’s why we keep seeing these record-breaking 80° and 90° days stack up.
Lindi Kessinger said:
“Maybe but a lot less 100-degree days this summer! I’ll take more 80s all year and less 100s in the summer!”
Matt LaBove asked:
“Now compare triple-digit days.”
Paul Humphries stated:
“Absolutely shocked that 2011 isn’t on that list. 2011 was the summer of fire!”
Paul, you are going to have to forgive me. 2011 does appear on the 80° list, tied for 5th place with 2020 and 1999. It also ranks second for the most 90° days. The year 2011 still holds the record for the most 100° days in Houston with 46!
By comparison, 2025 has seen 8 days above 100°, which puts us in a tie for 17th place. Hot, yes, but still a long way from 2011’s brutal summer.
The chart above shows the full breakdown of the years with the most 100° days in Houston. In 2011, all but one day in August hit at least 100°, a month many of us will never forget. More recently, 2023 set the record for the most 100° days in September. And this year, 2025, brought us 8 triple-digit days, six in August and two in July.
To wrap things up, I want to address a couple of comments:
Joshua Phillip wrote:
“Let us not forget how cool June and July were! Historic!”
It’s true, June and July didn’t feel quite as oppressive as some recent summers. But they were still hotter than average. June finished with a monthly average of 93.2°, ranking 21st hottest on record. July came in at 95.3°, also 21st in the record books. So while the heat wasn’t headline-grabbing, it definitely wasn’t “historically cool.”
Alexander Bourg asked:
“Will this translate to another blizzard for the Gulf Coast?”
Without being too much of a stickler for definitions, I think Alexander is asking if it will snow again. There is no correlation between record-setting warm years and snow in the winter. But we all know it snowed this past January. I, for one, would like a repeat as long as the power stays on.