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Old 05-28-2017, 04:59 AM
 
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I live in UK and always thought of Texas as a dry place with hot weather and barren landscape. What is Texas really like?
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Old 05-28-2017, 05:08 AM
 
Location: 49th parallel
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Texas is so big there are several different climates in the one state. You have East Texas, where there are thick woods, pine trees, and slight rolling hills; the Gulf Coast area, where it is pretty flat, humid, and lightly treed. There is south Texas, where it is a bit drier and there's all the fruit orchards and big ranches, then there's the Hill Country (near Austin), with good size hills, deciduous trees, and mainly small towns, then there's West Texas, which is the Texas you're thinking of. North Texas (Amarillo way) is a bit like west Texas, but lots colder in winter.

This is my take on the different climates in Texas.
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Old 05-28-2017, 09:24 AM
 
Location: Sacramento Mtns of NM
4,280 posts, read 9,101,133 times
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Rather than expecting people to reply to this question, the OP needs to spend far more time exploring imagery and aerial views on the internet. Begin by typing "texas views" into whatever browser search window is being used.
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Old 05-28-2017, 09:37 AM
 
Location: Aurora, CO
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The only part of Texas that is truly desert is the southwestern corner of the state. Ironically, to me, it's also the most scenic part of the state. Big Bend, Davis Mountains, and Guadalupe Peak are all beautiful.

The eastern 1/3 of the state (where most of the cities are) is pretty ecologically diverse, but with the exception of the Cross Timbers, Hill Country, and the Piney Woods the geography is fairly bland. If you like vertical relief, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston will bore you to tears.
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Old 05-28-2017, 04:30 PM
 
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The Trans-Pecos is the only desert area in Texas,OP.
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Old 05-28-2017, 06:16 PM
 
Location: South Padre Island, TX
2,452 posts, read 2,272,781 times
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Ordinarily, I could just tell you to use the internet you already have, and search it up yourself. But, since this question is quite honest, and there always is need for interpretation of what is seen, I will explain for now:

When you are looking at Texas, you are looking at a territory larger than France. Thus, it's quite clear that there will be quite a variation in the climates and landscapes you will find within the state. Conveniently, Texas can be divided as shown on this map, based on combination of climate, landscape, and cultural factors (although I will only talk about landscape and climate based on your question). Explanation is as follows:

General
  1. Climate
    According to Koppen, there are five main climate types in Texas: Humid subtropical (Cfa), Warm and Cold Semiarid (Bsh and Bsk, respectively), and Warm and Cold Desert (BWh and BWk, respectively). Use this page to get a general idea of what each climate entails. Keep in mind though, that there are nuance/variations within each of these climate domains, which I will elaborate on in paragraphs below.
  2. Landscape
    A wide variety of landscapes can be seen across Texas, from swamps to deserts, from prairies to beaches. Here is one of many maps that divides the landscape regions of Texas, with explanations of each of the regions shown. As before with climate, these maps only provide a general idea, which belie the many nuances/variations that I will elaborate on.

Elaboration
  1. Southeast Texas/Upper Texas Coast
    Location
    The darker blue area in the first map.
    Climate
    This is, by far, the wettest area of Texas, with the most classic demonstration of the Humid subtropical climate; high rainfall annually (50+ inches) with no distinct dry-season. Rainfall peaks both in amount and frequency during the summer, a trend which grows more pronounced the closer you are to the coast. This area of Texas also is also relatively moderated in temperature relative to much of the state (warmer winters, cooler summers), due to the strong Gulf influence year-round. It has among the lowest incidences of 100F temps in the state, with only some high elevation mountains in the state being lower.
    Landscape
    Located south of the Piney Woods, this area corresponds to the northern portion of the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes" division. The coastal area has beaches, wetlands, marsh/mangrove pockets, and is paralled by many discontinuous barrier islands. The water along the beaches can get quite murky, due to inflows from nearby rivers. Inland of the coast is where you will find the Gulf Coast prairie; it is not a true prairie of pure grassland, but rather, it can more accurately be described as a "forest-grassland" mosaic, wherein the grassland is broken up by bottomland forest corridors aligned with floodplains, as well as by many tree island pockets in areas of distinct soil (known as hammocks or mottes). These forest are just as thick as in the Piney Woods, but just not as wide-spread; many of the same species from the Piney Woods occur here, but there are also more broadleaf evergreens (due to the warmer climate). The coastal grasslands occur in the areas where soil conditions make it more challenging for trees to grow; because of a control in soil, rather than climate, these grasslands contain quite a bit of endemic species, in the form of flowers adapted for the wet, humid conditions. Overall, this is a highly bio-diverse region.
    Population Centers
    Houston Metro (Houston, Galveston, etc), Golden Triangle

  2. East Texas
    Location
    The dark green area in the far east of the state on the map.
    Climate
    This humid subtropical region also has high year-round rainfall near 50 inches, but unlike the Upper Coast, there is a period of notable dryness during mid-late summer (July and August). As this area is quite inland from the coast, and in a northerly location, winters can get colder, with greater chance for freezes and snow; on the other hand, summers get much hotter than on the coast.
    Landscape
    This are contains Piney Woods, a region of thick pine forest that continues across the SE US. In addition to pines, there are also many hardwood/broadleaf species in the forest. The further south you go, and the more acidic the soil is, the more evergreen species are present. This forest region is highly biodiverse, owing to flora/fauna assemblages that occur with the pine trees.
    Population Centers
    Tyler, Texarkana, Lufkin, Nacogdoches

  3. Central Texas
    Location
    The bright red area in the central portion of the state on the map.
    Climate
    A humid subtropical region that has strong influences from aridity, as semi-arid climates begin just to the west. Mid summer is the driest period of the year as in East Texas, however, the winter rainfall in this region also isn't very high; thus, the region ends up with a bimodal spring/fall rainfall peak. Rainfall totals are in the 30 inch range. As this region is inland from the coast, it sees greater winter cold with more chance for snow/freezes, as well as hotter summer heat, with plentiful occurrences of 100F+ temps.
    Landscape
    This area includes the Edwards Plateau, commonly known as the Hill Country. Hilly topography/cliff formations are abundant, and soil is shallow, quite limestone based. Underground, aquifer systems give rise to the many springs that dot the region, and the limestone geology erodes in such a way that intricate cave systems are formed. This region of Texas is not as bio diverse as landscapes to the east, but the nature of the landscape allows for many endemic species to occur (especially within the caves). At the eastern edge of the Hill Country is the Balcones Escarpment, where, to the east, you have the flatter lands of the Gulf Coast plain.
    Population Centers
    Austin, Waco, College Station

  4. North Texas
    Location
    The pale blue area just west of East Texas and north of Central Texas as described above.
    Climate
    The subtropical climate here has similar rainfall patterns to Central Texas (dry winters and summers), but with slightly less aridity. This is due to the northerly location, allowing for stronger influence from jet-stream driven storms. Because of this closer proximity to the jet-stream, in conjunction to the ability of warm-moist air to flow off the Gulf, and a border along the arid zone, this area of Texas has a strong chance for severe storms, which produce hail, tornadoes, etc. The winters are about as warm as similar-latitude areas of East Texas, with summer heat comparable to Central Texas.
    Landscape
    There is quite a bit of an interior prairie landscape here (very distinct from the coastal prairie along the Gulf), but even here, the climate is wet enough for forest, so the prairie here is also soil-based. This time, the prairie is known as the Blacklands, corresponding to the rich, dark soil underlying the landscape. Very tall grasses dominate this prairie, with some areas of trees present. Included in the western areas of North Texas are the Cross Timbers, a forest/grassland mosaic; unlike with the Gulf Coast, this mosaic takes form due to increasing aridity, rather than the soil, as the land becomes more like the semi-arid areas of the Great Plains.
    Population Centers
    DFW Metro (Dallas, Fort Worth, etc), Wichita Falls

  5. South Texas
    Location
    The darker red area on the map south of Central Texas and Upper Texas Coast
    Climate
    This area sees quite a bit of aridity in the subtropical climate (only 20-30 inches or so of rain annually), which diminishes as you go closer to the coast; however, even the coast is still more arid than the Upper Texas Coast. Two factors are at play in the decreasing rainfall going down the coast. One, the area is far south, meaning that it misses out on much of the fall-spring westerlie-driven precipitation, and two, the position on the coast isn't favorable for the production of summer storms, unlike the Upper Coast (winds have to come more from the east, less variety in direction than with the Upper Coast). However, from late August-early October, wind patterns over the Gulf change such that easterly flow is more available, granting the area a strong rainfall maximum within the month of September. Temperatures are also moderated by the Gulf as in the Upper Texas coast, but while summers are slightly hotter (due to drier conditions), winters are warmer. Going inland, the climate grows more arid, the bimodal spring-fall rainfall peak grows more pronounced, summers get hotter (very hot, with 100F being regular), and winter temperatures get colder (even compared to the Upper Coast); in far western areas, the climate changes from subtropical to semi-arid.
    Landscape
    Largely thorny shrubland/brush, along with areas of open grassland, are seen within the inland portions. The northern border of South Texas includes a portion of the Hill Country. Along the wetter coast, there are bottomland forests along waterways like with the Upper Coast, except that the trees are much shrubbier. The beaches here have much clearer water than the Upper Coast, due to less rivers for inflow (drier climate); with less freshwater, the Gulf here has higher salt content than the Upper Coast, conditions wherein sea-grass beds can thrive underwater. Warmer winters allow for greater mangrove presence than on the Upper Coast.
    Population Centers
    San Antonio, Laredo, Corpus Christi

  6. Rio Grande Valley
    Location
    The extreme bottom of Texas colored in purple
    Climate
    A distinct subregion of South Texas wherein agricultural operations are strong, due to having the warmest winters in the state Texas (just short of tropical); coastal areas can even grow coconut palms. Following the decreasing trend in rainfall going south along the Texas coast, this area of Texas is the driest portion along the coast, and nearly is semi-arid (less than 30 inches of rainfall annually). As with the rest of South Texas, 100F temps are quite regular in summer, with numbers diminishing closer to the coast.
    Landscape
    Much the same as South Texas (described above), but with greater presence of tropical organisms; many from Mexico reach their northern extents in this region. Palm trees/tropical plants are most plentiful in this portion of Texas, although vegetation is not as lush as areas further up the coast. The beaches here have the clearest water in the state as well.
    Population Centers
    Brownsville, South Padre Island, McAllen

  7. South Plains
    Location
    Orange colored area west of North Texas, and south of the Panhandle
    Climate
    This area has a cold semi-arid climate. Like the Texas Panhandle, influence from the desert monsoon can occasionally bring rainfall during summer. Temperatures are hot in summer, but with dry air to lower heat index, and 10-25 inches of rain is the norm. Winters bring high chance of snow, blizzards, and deep cold.
    Landscape
    Includes a continuation of the Great Plains/Llano Estacado landscape as seen in the Panhandle. Thus, a very dry, short-grass prairie, as seen in areas of similar longitude further north.
    Population Centers
    Lubbock

  8. Panhandle
    Location
    Northernmost area in Texas, colored yellow
    Climate
    Very dry humid subtropical in the east, turning to cold semi-arid in the west. This portion of Texas is the coldest in winter, seeing regular snowfall/blizzards during winter. Summers can get hot, but with less humidity than many other areas of Texas. 10-25 inches of rainfall is the norm, with quite a bit during summer, due to effects from the desert monsoon.
    Landscape
    Corresponds to the southern areas of the Great Plains of North America, and, thus, includes many of the landscapes common to the region. Both high plains, filled with escarpments/cliffs, and rolling plains, with hills, are present in the region. Significant topographic formations include Caprock Escarpment and Palo Duro Canyon. The Llano Estacado formation runs through this region. Short grass prairie is common.
    Population Centers
    Amarillo

  9. West Texas
    Location
    Light green area west of North and Central Texas
    Climate
    This area has a cold semi-arid climate, but going south, the semi-arid climate becomes warm. Like the Texas Panhandle, influence from the desert monsoon can occasionally bring rainfall during summer. Temperatures are hot in summer, but with dry air to lower heat index, and 10-25 inches of rain is the norm. Winters bring high chance of snow, blizzards, and deep cold.
    Landscape
    A continuation of the high plain landscapes as seen in the Panhandle occurs here. Here you will find many table-land mesa formations, known collectively as the Llano Estacado. Topography in this region, thus, is quite similar to what is seen in the Panhandle area of Texas. The southern end of the Llano Estacado contains an area of sand dunes, known as the Monohans Sand Hills; large deposits of sand occur in the region, blown throughout the land by strong winds, forming into dunes, despite this area being a semi-arid climate (and not true desert, or arid, climate)
    Population Centers
    Midland, Odessa

  10. Trans-Pecos
    Location
    Westernmost location in Texas.
    Climate
    This is the only area of Texas where you will find an actual desert climate. Because most of the region is high in elevation, the deserts here are considered "cold deserts," seeing quite low temperatures during the winter; low-elevation micro-climates are warm enough to get into the "warm-desert" range. Only about 10 inches or less of precipitation falls in the region, but there is a summer peak in the rainfall, due to a desert monsoon process that occurs over the SW US; these monsoon rains are quite minimal in the lowlands, but increase as you go higher in elevation, due to the orographic effect. Lowland deserts see very high temperatures, with 100F temps and beyond, whereas the higher elevations are much cooler, with average highs only in the low 80s.
    Landscape
    High desert mountains, canyons, and basins dot this landscape, as seen with the many national parks of the region (Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains). You have your typical desert vegetation (cactus, shrubs, etc) in the lowlands, but as you go up in elevation, you get a "sky-island" effect, since orographic lifting/cooling allows for more moisture, giving rise to tree/forest cover. Additionally, desert grasslands, as well as sand-dune areas, exist as well.
    Population Centers
    El Paso, Marfa, Alpine

That's it for now. I will elaborate more on the unique landscapes/ecoregions you can find throughout the state, if you want.
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Old 05-28-2017, 08:08 PM
 
Location: DFW Metroplex, Texas
524 posts, read 705,136 times
Reputation: 436
Quote:
Originally Posted by Texyn View Post
Ordinarily, I could just tell you to use the internet you already have, and search it up yourself. But, since this question is quite honest, and there always is need for interpretation of what is seen, I will explain for now:

When you are looking at Texas, you are looking at a territory larger than France. Thus, it's quite clear that there will be quite a variation in the climates and landscapes you will find within the state. Conveniently, Texas can be divided as shown on this map, based on combination of climate, landscape, and cultural factors (although I will only talk about landscape and climate based on your question). Explanation is as follows:

General
  1. Climate
    According to Koppen, there are five main climate types in Texas: Humid subtropical (Cfa), Warm and Cold Semiarid (Bsh and Bsk, respectively), and Warm and Cold Desert (BWh and BWk, respectively). Use this page to get a general idea of what each climate entails. Keep in mind though, that there are nuance/variations within each of these climate domains, which I will elaborate on in paragraphs below.
  2. Landscape
    A wide variety of landscapes can be seen across Texas, from swamps to deserts, from prairies to beaches. Here is one of many maps that divides the landscape regions of Texas, with explanations of each of the regions shown. As before with climate, these maps only provide a general idea, which belie the many nuances/variations that I will elaborate on.

Elaboration
  1. Southeast Texas/Upper Texas Coast
    Location
    The darker blue area in the first map.
    Climate
    This is, by far, the wettest area of Texas, with the most classic demonstration of the Humid subtropical climate; high rainfall annually (50+ inches) with no distinct dry-season. Rainfall peaks both in amount and frequency during the summer, a trend which grows more pronounced the closer you are to the coast. This area of Texas also is also relatively moderated in temperature relative to much of the state (warmer winters, cooler summers), due to the strong Gulf influence year-round. It has among the lowest incidences of 100F temps in the state, with only some high elevation mountains in the state being lower.
    Landscape
    Located south of the Piney Woods, this area corresponds to the northern portion of the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes" division. The coastal area has beaches, wetlands, marsh/mangrove pockets, and is paralled by many discontinuous barrier islands. The water along the beaches can get quite murky, due to inflows from nearby rivers. Inland of the coast is where you will find the Gulf Coast prairie; it is not a true prairie of pure grassland, but rather, it can more accurately be described as a "forest-grassland" mosaic, wherein the grassland is broken up by bottomland forest corridors aligned with floodplains, as well as by many tree island pockets in areas of distinct soil (known as hammocks or mottes). These forest are just as thick as in the Piney Woods, but just not as wide-spread; many of the same species from the Piney Woods occur here, but there are also more broadleaf evergreens (due to the warmer climate). The coastal grasslands occur in the areas where soil conditions make it more challenging for trees to grow; because of a control in soil, rather than climate, these grasslands contain quite a bit of endemic species, in the form of flowers adapted for the wet, humid conditions. Overall, this is a highly bio-diverse region.
    Population Centers
    Houston Metro (Houston, Galveston, etc), Golden Triangle

  2. East Texas
    Location
    The dark green area in the far east of the state on the map.
    Climate
    This humid subtropical region also has high year-round rainfall near 50 inches, but unlike the Upper Coast, there is a period of notable dryness during mid-late summer (July and August). As this area is quite inland from the coast, and in a northerly location, winters can get colder, with greater chance for freezes and snow; on the other hand, summers get much hotter than on the coast.
    Landscape
    This are contains Piney Woods, a region of thick pine forest that continues across the SE US. In addition to pines, there are also many hardwood/broadleaf species in the forest. The further south you go, and the more acidic the soil is, the more evergreen species are present. This forest region is highly biodiverse, owing to flora/fauna assemblages that occur with the pine trees.
    Population Centers
    Tyler, Texarkana, Lufkin, Nacogdoches

  3. Central Texas
    Location
    The bright red area in the central portion of the state on the map.
    Climate
    A humid subtropical region that has strong influences from aridity, as semi-arid climates begin just to the west. Mid summer is the driest period of the year as in East Texas, however, the winter rainfall in this region also isn't very high; thus, the region ends up with a bimodal spring/fall rainfall peak. Rainfall totals are in the 30 inch range. As this region is inland from the coast, it sees greater winter cold with more chance for snow/freezes, as well as hotter summer heat, with plentiful occurrences of 100F+ temps.
    Landscape
    This area includes the Edwards Plateau, commonly known as the Hill Country. Hilly topography/cliff formations are abundant, and soil is shallow, quite limestone based. Underground, aquifer systems give rise to the many springs that dot the region, and the limestone geology erodes in such a way that intricate cave systems are formed. This region of Texas is not as bio diverse as landscapes to the east, but the nature of the landscape allows for many endemic species to occur (especially within the caves). At the eastern edge of the Hill Country is the Balcones Escarpment, where, to the east, you have the flatter lands of the Gulf Coast plain.
    Population Centers
    Austin, Waco, College Station

  4. North Texas
    Location
    The pale blue area just west of East Texas and north of Central Texas as described above.
    Climate
    The subtropical climate here has similar rainfall patterns to Central Texas (dry winters and summers), but with slightly less aridity. This is due to the northerly location, allowing for stronger influence from jet-stream driven storms. Because of this closer proximity to the jet-stream, in conjunction to the ability of warm-moist air to flow off the Gulf, and a border along the arid zone, this area of Texas has a strong chance for severe storms, which produce hail, tornadoes, etc. The winters are about as warm as similar-latitude areas of East Texas, with summer heat comparable to Central Texas.
    Landscape
    There is quite a bit of an interior prairie landscape here (very distinct from the coastal prairie along the Gulf), but even here, the climate is wet enough for forest, so the prairie here is also soil-based. This time, the prairie is known as the Blacklands, corresponding to the rich, dark soil underlying the landscape. Very tall grasses dominate this prairie, with some areas of trees present. Included in the western areas of North Texas are the Cross Timbers, a forest/grassland mosaic; unlike with the Gulf Coast, this mosaic takes form due to increasing aridity, rather than the soil, as the land becomes more like the semi-arid areas of the Great Plains.
    Population Centers
    DFW Metro (Dallas, Fort Worth, etc), Wichita Falls

  5. South Texas
    Location
    The darker red area on the map south of Central Texas and Upper Texas Coast
    Climate
    This area sees quite a bit of aridity in the subtropical climate (only 20-30 inches or so of rain annually), which diminishes as you go closer to the coast; however, even the coast is still more arid than the Upper Texas Coast. Two factors are at play in the decreasing rainfall going down the coast. One, the area is far south, meaning that it misses out on much of the fall-spring westerlie-driven precipitation, and two, the position on the coast isn't favorable for the production of summer storms, unlike the Upper Coast (winds have to come more from the east, less variety in direction than with the Upper Coast). However, from late August-early October, wind patterns over the Gulf change such that easterly flow is more available, granting the area a strong rainfall maximum within the month of September. Temperatures are also moderated by the Gulf as in the Upper Texas coast, but while summers are slightly hotter (due to drier conditions), winters are warmer. Going inland, the climate grows more arid, the bimodal spring-fall rainfall peak grows more pronounced, summers get hotter (very hot, with 100F being regular), and winter temperatures get colder (even compared to the Upper Coast); in far western areas, the climate changes from subtropical to semi-arid.
    Landscape
    Largely thorny shrubland/brush, along with areas of open grassland, are seen within the inland portions. The northern border of South Texas includes a portion of the Hill Country. Along the wetter coast, there are bottomland forests along waterways like with the Upper Coast, except that the trees are much shrubbier. The beaches here have much clearer water than the Upper Coast, due to less rivers for inflow (drier climate); with less freshwater, the Gulf here has higher salt content than the Upper Coast, conditions wherein sea-grass beds can thrive underwater. Warmer winters allow for greater mangrove presence than on the Upper Coast.
    Population Centers
    San Antonio, Laredo, Corpus Christi

  6. Rio Grande Valley
    Location
    The extreme bottom of Texas colored in purple
    Climate
    A distinct subregion of South Texas wherein agricultural operations are strong, due to having the warmest winters in the state Texas (just short of tropical); coastal areas can even grow coconut palms. Following the decreasing trend in rainfall going south along the Texas coast, this area of Texas is the driest portion along the coast, and nearly is semi-arid (less than 30 inches of rainfall annually). As with the rest of South Texas, 100F temps are quite regular in summer, with numbers diminishing closer to the coast.
    Landscape
    Much the same as South Texas (described above), but with greater presence of tropical organisms; many from Mexico reach their northern extents in this region. Palm trees/tropical plants are most plentiful in this portion of Texas, although vegetation is not as lush as areas further up the coast. The beaches here have the clearest water in the state as well.
    Population Centers
    Brownsville, South Padre Island, McAllen

  7. South Plains
    Location
    Orange colored area west of North Texas, and south of the Panhandle
    Climate
    This area has a cold semi-arid climate. Like the Texas Panhandle, influence from the desert monsoon can occasionally bring rainfall during summer. Temperatures are hot in summer, but with dry air to lower heat index, and 10-25 inches of rain is the norm. Winters bring high chance of snow, blizzards, and deep cold.
    Landscape
    Includes a continuation of the Great Plains/Llano Estacado landscape as seen in the Panhandle. Thus, a very dry, short-grass prairie, as seen in areas of similar longitude further north.
    Population Centers
    Lubbock

  8. Panhandle
    Location
    Northernmost area in Texas, colored yellow
    Climate
    Very dry humid subtropical in the east, turning to cold semi-arid in the west. This portion of Texas is the coldest in winter, seeing regular snowfall/blizzards during winter. Summers can get hot, but with less humidity than many other areas of Texas. 10-25 inches of rainfall is the norm, with quite a bit during summer, due to effects from the desert monsoon.
    Landscape
    Corresponds to the southern areas of the Great Plains of North America, and, thus, includes many of the landscapes common to the region. Both high plains, filled with escarpments/cliffs, and rolling plains, with hills, are present in the region. Significant topographic formations include Caprock Escarpment and Palo Duro Canyon. The Llano Estacado formation runs through this region. Short grass prairie is common.
    Population Centers
    Amarillo

  9. West Texas
    Location
    Light green area west of North and Central Texas
    Climate
    This area has a cold semi-arid climate, but going south, the semi-arid climate becomes warm. Like the Texas Panhandle, influence from the desert monsoon can occasionally bring rainfall during summer. Temperatures are hot in summer, but with dry air to lower heat index, and 10-25 inches of rain is the norm. Winters bring high chance of snow, blizzards, and deep cold.
    Landscape
    A continuation of the high plain landscapes as seen in the Panhandle occurs here. Here you will find many table-land mesa formations, known collectively as the Llano Estacado. Topography in this region, thus, is quite similar to what is seen in the Panhandle area of Texas. The southern end of the Llano Estacado contains an area of sand dunes, known as the Monohans Sand Hills; large deposits of sand occur in the region, blown throughout the land by strong winds, forming into dunes, despite this area being a semi-arid climate (and not true desert, or arid, climate)
    Population Centers
    Midland, Odessa

  10. Trans-Pecos
    Location
    Westernmost location in Texas.
    Climate
    This is the only area of Texas where you will find an actual desert climate. Because most of the region is high in elevation, the deserts here are considered "cold deserts," seeing quite low temperatures during the winter; low-elevation micro-climates are warm enough to get into the "warm-desert" range. Only about 10 inches or less of precipitation falls in the region, but there is a summer peak in the rainfall, due to a desert monsoon process that occurs over the SW US; these monsoon rains are quite minimal in the lowlands, but increase as you go higher in elevation, due to the orographic effect. Lowland deserts see very high temperatures, with 100F temps and beyond, whereas the higher elevations are much cooler, with average highs only in the low 80s.
    Landscape
    High desert mountains, canyons, and basins dot this landscape, as seen with the many national parks of the region (Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains). You have your typical desert vegetation (cactus, shrubs, etc) in the lowlands, but as you go up in elevation, you get a "sky-island" effect, since orographic lifting/cooling allows for more moisture, giving rise to tree/forest cover. Additionally, desert grasslands, as well as sand-dune areas, exist as well.
    Population Centers
    El Paso, Marfa, Alpine

That's it for now. I will elaborate more on the unique landscapes/ecoregions you can find throughout the state, if you want.
^^^This explains various types of climate in Texas perfectly.

Although Houston further away from the Gulf Coast has a lower number of days above 100 degrees during summers, it feels more humid than Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex.
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Old 05-28-2017, 08:19 PM
 
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When I think of Essex, England, I think of bad rainy weather, bad teeth, bad food, and radical Islamic terrorists running the streets.
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Old 05-28-2017, 11:02 PM
JJG
 
Location: Fort Worth
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gtt99 View Post
When I think of Essex, England, I think of bad rainy weather, bad teeth, bad food, and radical Islamic terrorists running the streets.
Was that really necessary...?
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Old 05-29-2017, 02:15 AM
 
Location: Unknown
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Originally Posted by California_Aspirer View Post
I live in UK and always thought of Texas as a dry place with hot weather and barren landscape. What is Texas really like?
Like what others have stated. Texas is so big it has pretty much everything you can think of in one state.
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