CLIMATE

With its subtropical climate, you'll find flowers growing with abandon in the Houston area. Plus, with just 18 days per year of temperatures 35 degrees or less and temperatures rarely reaching 100 degrees, you'll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors year round. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports the annual  average temperature for Houston to be 71.4, with a December low of 43 degrees and a high average temperature of 94 in August. Annual rainfall totals 49.77 inches, with April and June the wettest months.