When it comes to extreme weather, no state in the continental United States can rival the great state of Texas. But why?

What You Need To Know

  • Texas' geographic location interacts with several air streams 

  • Diverse topography plays a major role in Texas weather

  • The Lone Star State suffers from many different weather outbreaks

  • Climate change only serves to enhance this extreme weather events

Texas topography

Compared to all the other states, the Lone Star State's topography varies considerably, allowing for different types of weather events to happen there.

Think about it: Texas has over 350 miles of coastline along the Gulf. East Texas is generally lush, rich in moisture enough to support lowland marshes at the Louisiana border. Whereas western parts of the state are defined by dry, desert landscapes as far as the eye can see.

Central Texas, from east to west, brings rolling hills that max out near 2460 feet into the Hill Country.

The flatlands of North Texas see the most collisions of air masses of any region in the nation. From cold fronts to dry-lines, and warm fronts to gust fronts, the biggest airstreams in the country converge here.

These vast topography differences and the air masses that run through them are constantly in a battle to find a balance that Texas, by its nature, can’t provide. That’s why our weather is so extreme.

More weather, more challenges

If you live in Oklahoma, you don’t have to worry about hurricanes, only severe weather, and if you live in Oregon, you only have to worry about wildfires, drought mainly. But if you live in Texas, you have to worry about them all.

Given the higher potential to see more extreme weather events, Texas is the most vulnerable state when it comes to climate change. In short, you're basically asking the place with the most dynamic weather in the county to increase the intensity of these events. 

One recent study found that climate change increased the amount of precipitation released by Hurricane Harvey by about 37%, which resulted in $125 billion in damage from this storm alone.

Climate change is a great threat multiplier. It’s not creating something new we’ve never seen before in Texas. It’s taking the nation’s most dangerous weather disasters were already at risk from and daring them to come up with something more intense.

Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.