Texas is a very large state, with an incredibly diverse topography and therefore the Texas climate is hard to pinpoint. The Gulf Coast has a typically maritime climate, with hot, humid summers and mild winters. The central and northern areas are more continental, with hot summers and cold winters. Dry and hot conditions exist along the Mexican border in the southwest, and in the northwest, in the Texas/
Oklahoma panhandle, winters are colder with snowfall a common occurrence. The state has two principal seasons - summer usually runs from about April to October, and winter begins in November, lasting
until about March. In summer, temperatures can range from 96°F (36°C) in
El Paso in the southwest, to 91°F (33°C) in
Amarillo in the panhandle, to 88°F (31°C) on the Gulf Coast, while winter temperatures in the same three areas can range from 29°F (-2°C), to a more mild 48°F (9°C) on the Gulf Coast. The rainfall is Texas can vary too, with the western areas experiencing the least amount and east and southeast along the
Gulf of Mexico experiencing the most. The Gulf Coast is susceptible to hurricanes, and tornadoes also occur, and the state has experienced severe floods, as well as droughts.
