Köppen Climate Classifications

Climate covers everything from averages to extremes of different meteorological variables, such as temperature and precipitation. Köppen climate classifications give information about these different variables. Texas has eight unique climatic zones across an area of 268,581 square miles, though they can be categorized by two major climatic types:

Dry (arid and semiarid) - confined to the Trans-Pecos region of Texas and is characterized by little precipitation, receiving an average annual rainfall total of 16 inches or less.

features hot, arid conditions with lots of sunshine, lands of extremes
hot, dry summers, but not as hot desert climates, with crisp, dry winters
found near humid subtropical climates, with hot to scorching summers and warm to cool winters with minimal precipitation
bordering humid continental climates, warm to hot, dry summers, with cold winters with large diurnal temperature ranges

Temperate - nearly two-thirds of the state falls under this classification, it is known as a modified marine climate, and is caused by the predominant onshore flow of air from the Gulf of Mexico. The climate type is modified by the decrease in moisture the further inland and away from the Gulf.

warm to hot summers, with cold to mild winters, with usually no dry season and highly variable rainfall year round
cool summers and winters with small shifts in the temperatures throughout the year, tend to have drier weather during certain seasons.
hot to sweltering summers, with dry conditions and mild, wet winters
cool temperatures throughout the year, with the wet season during the winter and drier summers.

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