No matter where in Texas you live, the summer in the Lone Star State can be absolutely brutal. Texas is known for extreme heat, but many other factors, such as humidity, rainfall and severe thunderstorms can make summer across the state difficult.

Overall, which major Texas city has the worst summer weather, and which city’s weather is a bit more tolerable? We analyzed a variety of weather data for the six largest cities in Texas — Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and El Paso — and compiled the data for answers. Here’s what we found.

How we compiled the data

We based this competition on four categories: temperature, humidity, rainfall and severe thunderstorms. We ranked each city in all four categories and assigned a point value based on where the city fell in each category.

For example, if one particular city had the highest average summer temperature, that city would get one point. Second place would get two points, third place gets three and so on. The lowest average temperature would result in six points added.

For any ties, half-points would be awarded. In a tie for third in a category, for instance, each city would get 2.5 points. 

After all four categories have been analyzed, the city with the fewest total points will be crowned as having the worst summer weather in Texas.

Temperature

For this category, the average temperature was calculated for each city during meteorological summer, which runs from June 1 to Aug. 31.

Dallas was warmest with an average summer temperature of 85.9 degrees. If that sounds way too low, don’t worry: Average temperatures incorporate both high and low temperatures. El Paso ended up with the coolest average temperature, coming in at only 83.7 degrees.

Humidity

As we all know, it’s not all about the heat in Texas, it’s also the humidity. For this category, each city’s average summer dew point was calculated, which is a measure of how much moisture is in the air at any given time.

Unsurprisingly, Houston has the highest dew point of any major Texas city, averaging 73.7 degrees during the three summer months. Austin and San Antonio tied for second with an average dew point of 69.3 degrees.

As you move farther from the tropical air wafting in from the Gulf of Mexico, average dew points decrease. That’s why Dallas and Fort Worth are slightly less humid, and El Paso is the driest location by a wide margin.

Rainfall totals

Summer is a time to be outside with family and friends, possibly by the pool or grilling out in the backyard. While we absolutely do need the rain, too much rain can can get in the way of the summer fun, and one Texas city has far and away more summer rainfall than the rest.

Houston averaged 14.61 inches of rain every summer. This is mainly because of the city’s proximity to the moisture-rich air of the Gulf of Mexico, which allows for numerous thunderstorm chances and occasional tropical systems that drop heavy rainfall.

Severe storms

While the highest number of severe storms happen in the spring, summer can still occasionally bring strong thunderstorms to Texas. For this category, we took the average number of summer severe storm reports, which includes hail, damaging wind and tornado reports.

The National Weather Service separates severe storm reports by county, not city. And because some counties are so much larger than others, we calculated the average number of severe storm reports per 1,000 square miles. 

Of the six counties analyzed, Tarrant County, which includes Fort Worth, was the most prone to summer severe weather. The county has amassed 12.8 severe storm reports per 1,000 square miles during the summer. 

Which city has the worst summer weather?

With a total of only 8.5 points, the Texas city with the worst summer weather is Houston. Texas’ largest city has the highest humidity, the most rain, ranked third in severe weather reports and tied for third in average temperature. Austin finished with the second-worst weather.

The city with the most comfortable summer weather was El Paso. This city in far West Texas finished in last place in all four categories measured, totaling 24 points. While high temperatures can still reach the triple digits, the air is much drier, allowing for lower nighttime temperatures and far fewer thunderstorms. San Antonio finished with the second-most comfortable summer weather in the state.