Houston's Cold Reality Check

Despite an Arctic blast, no record lows were broken but record highs piled up earlier this month

Jan. 30, 2026 at 1:15pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Despite this recent Arctic plunge, Houston's temperatures failed to set records, with the city actually seeing more record highs than record lows in recent decades. The author, a meteorologist, discusses the trends around record temperatures and the challenges of forecasting and preparing for extreme weather events in the Houston area, including an upcoming FIFA World Cup and the need to protect outdoor workers and athletes from dangerous heat.

Why it matters

This story highlights the changing climate patterns in Houston, with the city experiencing more record-breaking high temperatures than record lows in recent years. It underscores the need for better preparation and resilience-building to protect vulnerable populations from the impacts of extreme heat, which will only become more prevalent in the years ahead.

The details

The author, Anthony Yanez, was honored to give the Welcome to Houston talk at the national conference of the American Meteorological Society, where he shared the history of Houston weather and the unique challenges of forecasting in the region. One presentation that stuck with him focused on designing weather graphics to effectively communicate important messages. Yanez also served as a guest panelist in a town hall discussion on lessons learned from extreme flooding events, emphasizing the importance of ensuring people know what actions to take when warnings are issued. Additionally, Yanez has been part of a workshop focused on addressing the growing threat of extreme heat in Houston, tackling complex topics like heat measurement, risk communication, and community resilience.

  • In January 2026, Houston experienced an Arctic blast, but failed to set any record low temperatures.
  • Earlier in January 2026, Houston set five record highs.

The players

Anthony Yanez

A meteorologist who gave the Welcome to Houston talk at the national conference of the American Meteorological Society and served as a guest panelist in a town hall discussion on lessons learned from extreme flooding events.

American Meteorological Society

The national organization that hosted a conference in Houston, welcoming more than 6,000 registered attendees from across the United States and several hundred international visitors.

Climate Central

An organization that recently analyzed the frequency of daily record-high and record-low temperatures in 247 U.S. cities, finding that most locations are seeing far more record highs than record lows in recent decades.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The author plans to dive deeper into the topic of ensuring people know what actions to take when severe weather warnings are issued in a future newsletter.

The takeaway

This story highlights the growing threat of extreme heat in Houston, with the city experiencing more record-breaking high temperatures than record lows in recent years. It underscores the need for better preparation and resilience-building to protect vulnerable populations, including outdoor workers, older adults, and athletes, from the impacts of a warming climate.