Houston doesn't really do "seasons" in the way the rest of the country understands them. Honestly, if you’re looking for a predictable winter wonderland with crisp snow and a steady drop in mercury, you’re in the wrong zip code. Weather in Houston for December is basically a high-stakes game of meteorological roulette. One day you’re wearing a heavy wool coat to grab coffee, and by lunch, you’re sweating through your shirt because the humidity decided to stage a mid-day comeback.
It’s weird. It's confusing. But for most of us who live here, it’s actually the best month of the year.
The "Bipolar" Reality of Houston Decembers
Most weather sites will give you a clean, clinical average. They’ll tell you the average high is around 65°F and the low is 47°F. Those numbers are technically true, but they're also a total lie. They don't account for the "Blue Norther" cold fronts that can drop the temperature 30 degrees in two hours.
I’ve seen Decembers where we hit 80°F on Christmas Day. I’ve also seen years like 1989 where it plummeted to a bone-chilling 7°F. In 2021, the city recorded a record high of 85°F on December 10th. To put that in perspective, the low that night was 76°F—which is exactly the average low for a night in July.
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You basically have to prepare for three different climates every single week. It’s not uncommon to see a local in a North Face parka walking past someone in cargo shorts and flip-flops at the H-E-B. Neither of them is wrong; they’ve just checked the forecast at different times.
Humidity: The Uninvited Winter Guest
People think humidity is a summer-only problem in Southeast Texas. Nope. Because we’re so close to the Gulf of Mexico, that sticky air loves to crawl back inland whenever the wind shifts to the south.
High humidity in December makes 60°F feel like a damp, heavy sweater you can’t take off. It’s "muggy-cold," a very specific Houston sensation where the air is thick but the wind still bites. When the dew point climbs above 65°F in the middle of December, your floors might literally "sweat" if you leave the windows open. It sounds gross because it kind of is.
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Surviving the "Houston Layer" Strategy
If you’re visiting or new to the area, forget everything you know about winter fashion. The "ultimate guide" to dressing for Houston weather in December is just one word: layers. But not the heavy, Alaskan-tundra kind of layers.
- The Base: Start with a t-shirt or a light blouse. Seriously. If you start with a thermal, you will regret your life choices by 2:00 PM when the sun comes out.
- The Mid: A light hoodie or a cardigan is your best friend.
- The Outer: A denim jacket or a light windbreaker.
You’ll spend half your day taking these off and putting them back on. It’s a workout. Also, keep an umbrella in your trunk. December isn’t our wettest month (that honor usually goes to June or September), but we still get about 3.5 to 4 inches of rain. It tends to be that annoying, misty drizzle that lingers for three days straight rather than a massive thunderstorm.
Real Talk: Can It Snow?
Statistically? Barely. Effectively? Almost never.
The last time Houston saw a "significant" snow event in December was back in 2017 when parts of the city got about 1 to 3 inches. Before that, the legendary 2004 Christmas Eve snow was the stuff of local folklore. If even a single flake falls, the city effectively shuts down. We don't have salt trucks. We don't have snow tires. We just have panic and really pretty photos of palm trees covered in white powder.
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Why We Love It Anyway
Despite the atmospheric mood swings, December is when Houston actually becomes walkable. You can finally visit the Houston Zoo for "Zoo Lights" without feeling like you’re melting into the pavement. You can actually walk the trails at Buffalo Bayou Park or Memorial Park and enjoy the "crisp" (read: not 100-degree) air.
Events like "Dickens on The Strand" down in Galveston or the "Radiant Nature" display at the Houston Botanic Garden are actually enjoyable because you aren't fighting a heat stroke. The city feels alive because everyone is finally out of their air-conditioned bunkers.
Actionable Advice for December in the Bayou City
- Check the "Dew Point," not just the Temp: If the dew point is high, it’s going to feel warmer and stickier than the thermometer says.
- Follow Space City Weather: Honestly, they are the only ones who get the nuance of Houston's "hype-free" forecasting.
- Don't Pack Heavy Knits: Unless you’re planning on being outdoors specifically during a cold front at night, bulky sweaters will just take up space in your suitcase.
- Garage Your Plants: If a "Hard Freeze" is predicted (anywhere near 32°F or below), those tropical hibiscus plants you bought in May need to come inside. Houston's humidity makes freezes particularly "wet" and damaging to plants.
The reality is that December weather in Houston is less about a season and more about a transition. It’s the time of year where you finally get a break from the brutal Texas sun, even if it means you have to keep a jacket and a pair of shorts in your backseat at all times. Just embrace the chaos. It's the Houston way.