When Does Houston Reach 90 and 100 at IAH?

[wxman57]

At work, we have a number of yearly forecast contests. The current contest involves forecasting when IAH will reach 95 degrees for the first time this spring/summer. I picked a little later than average - June 14th at 4pm. We were discussing this at lunch and someone mentioned that he seems to remember summers in Houston when we did not reach 95. I find that hard to believe, but I don't have all the records in front of me. Your data show such a summer, Ptarmigan?

[Ptarmigan]

At work, we have a number of yearly forecast contests. The current contest involves forecasting when IAH will reach 95 degrees for the first time this spring/summer. I picked a little later than average - June 14th at 4pm. We were discussing this at lunch and someone mentioned that he seems to remember summers in Houston when we did not reach 95. I find that hard to believe, but I don't have all the records in front of me. Your data show such a summer, Ptarmigan?

I would be surprised if such a summer did not reach 95. Maybe in the 19th century following Tambora in 1815 and Krakatoa in 1883. Records of them are likely there, but are likely in bad condition due to aging.

From KIAH records, from 1970 to 2009, every year, we have reached 95. The latest date to first reach 95 was July 22, 1999. The earliest to reach 95 was May 19, 2003. However, we have had summers in Houston where it did not reach 100 as listed below:
1972-75
1979
1981-84
1989
1991-92
1996-97

[Ptarmigan]

Here is the line graph for when Intercontinental Airport first reaches 90 and 100.

[wxman57]

How about 95F? Our annual contest is for the first 95F at IAH.

[Ptarmigan]

How about 95F? Our annual contest is for the first 95F at IAH.

Here is the graph for first 95F day in Houston at KIAH from 1970-2009.

[wxman57]

Maybe you could adjust the axis of that spreadsheet to only cover about day 135-210? Would be easier to see what day the first 95 fell on if there were more divisions in the y-axis.

[Ptarmigan]

Maybe you could adjust the axis of that spreadsheet to only cover about day 135-210? Would be easier to see what day the first 95 fell on if there were more divisions in the y-axis.

Changed.

[Ptarmigan]

March 30, 1946 was quite warm at 96 degrees. Talk about a hot March day!

[Ptarmigan]

You have to wonder when does Houston reach 90 degrees? This is based on data data from Houston WB (1921 to 1969) IAH (1970-2009) from 1921 to 2009.

Average Month To Reach 90
Late April

Median Month To Reach 90
May

Average Date To First Reach 90
May 7

Median Date To First Reach 90
May 10

Earliest Date To First Reach 90
February 20, 1986

Latest Date To First Reach 90
June 12, 1970


First to reach 95.
Average Month To Reach 95
Late May

Median Month To Reach 95
June

Average Date To First Reach 95
June 14

Median Date To First Reach 95
June 15

Earliest Date To First Reach 95
March 30, 1946

Latest Date To First Reach 95
July 22, 1999


You wonder when does it first reach 100 in Houston. Interestingly, Houston does not see 100 degree days. In fact, there have been years were Houston never reached 100 degrees. This is based on data data from Houston WB (1921 to 1969) IAH (1970-2009) from 1921 to 2009. Summers that did not reach 100 are:
1922-23
1926
1928-29
1931
1933
1936
1938
1940-43
1946
1949-50
1952
1955-56
1959
1961
1965-68
1972-75
1979
1981-84
1989
1991-92
1996-97

Since 1998, Houston as always reached 100 degrees. There are no records that Houston has reached 100 degrees before June. Houston first reach 100 in July on average.

Average Month To Reach 100
July

Median Month To Reach 100
July

Average Date To First Reach 100
July 23

Median Date To First Reach 100
July 27

Earliest Date To First Reach 100
June 12, 1978

Latest Date To First Reach 100
September 1, 1985

[Ptarmigan]

[srainhoutx]

Well IAH hit 91 today. First time we have seen the 90 degree mark "officially" since October 15, 2009 when we reached 92.

[Mr. T]

Well IAH hit 91 today. First time we have seen the 90 degree mark "officially" since October 15, 2009 when we reached 92.

A very "un"Houston-like 91. With dewpoints in the 40s, it actually feels like 88 degrees.

Our real sustained Houston humid heat won't be here for just a little while longer...

[Ptarmigan]

We reached 90 today. Four days earlier than average from 1921 to 2009.

[wxman57]

Climo report says IAH hit 92 now, just 1 degree shy of the record. Guess we skipped spring this year.

[sleetstorm]

I, for one, pray that southeast Texas does not receive its first one hundred º day until next month. I have felt one hundred degree heat as a daytime high numerous times in the past here in SE Texas. In fact, I have experienced one day that I clearly remember, even to this day when I was a teenager when the temperature rose over the century mark. I was spending quality time with my grandparents in Beaumont and the high during that day reached a sweltering 108º F! Mercy, that was a very hot day without question. Southeast Texas is not exempt from having triple digit single digit daytime highs during the season of summer.

[sleetstorm]

Srainhoutx, or any of you, is triple digit single digits correct termology, wording? The reason that I called it that is because 100-109 is not only triple digits but also single digits that are put together.

[wxman57]

I think you're remembering the September 2000 heat wave across SE TX. Houston hit 109 during that stretch of 100+ days. No indications of any 100 degree days in the near future. They'll have to wait until July or August.

[sleetstorm]

I think you're remembering the September 2000 heat wave across SE TX. Houston hit 109 during that stretch of 100+ days. No indications of any 100 degree days in the near future. They'll have to wait until July or August.

You also recall that heat wave of that year as well, huh, wxman57? I know that southeast Texas has had good heat waves during past summers, but that one was the worst one that I recall, thus far. I wonder how this years' summer will turn out to be, a mixture of hot and dry with some cooler and wet days?

[sleetstorm]

I honestly do not know what the heat index was for those days during of that year here in SE Texas, but I am guessing that it may have been in the triple digits. Do any of you know? Are there any records?