5 things climate change has affected in Houston and southeast Texas

HOUSTON – Climate change is more than a buzz word -- it can be seen and felt across our communities.

Climate Central reports that in 2025, climate and weather disasters costed $115 billion in damages, ranking it the third costliest year on record.

While Houston missed direct landfalls from tropical storms and hurricanes in 2025, the city is no stranger to historic storms like Hurricane Harvey .

Here is a list of five ways changes in our climate are impacting southeast Texas.

Increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves

• Climate Central reports 2025 as Earth’s 4th hottest year on record. Houston had the most 80 degree days in a year, in 2025- 259 out 365 days were at 80 or above. Intense heat leads to stress on the city’s infrastructure -- including road buckling, pipes bursting on major city streets, and home foundations cracking due to high temperatures.

More intense rainstorms, longer dry periods

• Heavier rainfalls that lead to catastrophic flooding mean costly repairs and higher flood insurance rates across the Houston area.
• Although Houston did not see any major hurricanes this tropical season, we did experience moderate to extreme drought conditions across southeast Texas in 2025.

Warmer sea surface temperatures

• Warming sea surface temperatures are putting aquatic life at risk of disease, leading to algal blooms and changes in salinity, all factors that make it hard for species like oysters to thrive. We noticed an impact on the oyster population in oyster-harvesting areas of Galveston Bay this year, not only due to warmer seas surface temperatures but also powerful tropical storms and hurricanes.

Sea level rise

• Research by the group ‘Sea Level Rise’ shows the sea level off the Texas coast is up 18 inches from where it was 70 years ago. This change leads to more coastal flooding, beach erosion and the transition of wetlands to dry land. These shifts can impact the wildlife and properties that are near coastal areas.

Extreme cold

• Hard to forget about the Texas freeze in 2021 and the most recent snow and cold snaps in January that closed schools and slowed travel. A study by the journal ‘Science’ suggests climate models are showing more cases of displaced polar air that is leading to impactful winter weather events.