What’s The Weather In San Antonio ACTUALLY Like? Here’s A Month-by-Month Guide

By Sara Branstetter | April 14, 2023

With 250+ days a year of sunshine, San Antonio is an outstanding destination for those looking to spend some time in the great outdoors. Visitors to SA can *almost* be guaranteed blue skies, sunlight, and warmth nearly year-round, meaning your trip to the Riverwalk, Alamo, or historical Missions (all outside activities), should be lovely. To help you capitalize on the weather here, we have compiled a brief rundown of the annual weather in San Antonio, including a month-by-month guide.

What kind of climate does San Antonio, Texas have?

The science-y answer is a “transitional humid sub-tropical” climate. Humid sub-tropical climates are marked by hot, humid summers, and cool to mild winters.

The transitional piece means that we border on a semi-arid climate with less rainfall than much of the country.

What is San Antonio known for, weather-wise?

San Antonio weather is known for having lots of sun and for being hot and humid. For much of the year, this is the case. And when it isn’t, it is mostly mild, with gorgeous winters.

There can, however, be major variations in the weather on any given day. There’s a running joke here that if you don’t like the weather, just wait ten minutes.

It’s not at all uncommon in the fall, winter, and spring, to have a day in the 80s, followed by a day in the 40s, followed by a day of torrential rain, followed by months of heat and sun. Locals just know to go with it.

Does San Antonio have four seasons?

Not really, no. At least, not in the way that most people think of four seasons with distinct temperature changes and weather patterns.

Summers are the dominant season in San Antonio, lasting from May to October.

The winter months are short and mild (with no snow in the forecast), lasting from December to February.

Then we cram in spring in March and April and autumn in November, but temps are still usually much warmer during those months than elsewhere in the country, meaning they lack the classic feels of spring and fall.

*Fun fact, the leaves here don’t fall in the fall, they fall in the spring. The majority tree species is the Live Oak which doesn’t drop its leaves in autumn but drops leaves when the new leaves bud out in the spring and push out the old leaves from the year before. (And yes, there are some leaves that will drop in the fall from other species, but they are in the large minority).

Does it rain a lot in San Antonio?

San Antonio has an average rainfall of 33 inches per year. While not exactly qualifying us as a desert, this is certainly on the lower side of the spectrum for annual rainfall.

Generally, you can expect some rain almost every month, including the occasional thunderstorm, though not every day or even every week.

Does it ever snow in San Antonio?

Almost never, but not quite never. In the 20 years, we have lived in SA, it has snowed three times, two of which were fairly substantial. It does ice though, and with some regularity.

There is, on average, about one ice event each winter which will completely shut down the city for 1-3 days as the city isn’t prepared to manage long-term icy road conditions.

Does San Antonio ever experience natural disasters?

San Antonio may just be the best city in America for natural disaster avoidance.

With almost no snow, we don’t experience blizzards.

We aren’t located near a fault line so earthquakes are a non-entity.

We are 130 miles inland from the coast, so barring a perfect coastal hit of a severe storm that moves with tremendous speed directly to the city, we aren’t at risk of hurricanes.

And in the last 20 years, only one tornado, an EF1, has hit the city.

The only true natural disaster we are at risk for is flooding, though it isn’t a huge risk given how much rain we get each year.

What is the coldest month in San Antonio?

January is usually the coldest month of the year.

What is the hottest month in San Antonio?

July and August hand down. They are essentially one long, hot month.

What is the best month to visit San Antonio?

November and December are, in our opinion, the best months to visit San Antonio as they are marked by mild, comfortable weather, and lots of sun.

But, if you can’t make it then, we recommend scheduling your SA visit anytime between the months of November and April as you will have the best chance of experiencing optimal weather conditions.

This also happens to be the party season in San Antonio with the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo occurring in February and Fiesta San Antonio taking place in April.

How should I pack for my visit to San Antonio?

The key is preparation. Keep an eye on the forecast for a few weeks before your trip, and then watch it like a hawk in the 5 days leading up to your vacation. This will give you the best idea of what type of weather you will experience while visiting Alamo City. Once you know what to expect, pack accordingly.

*Pro tip: Even if it is going to be ridiculously hot while you are here, bring a lightweight jacket or sweater along. Restaurants, shops, and theaters will often compensate for the heat by over air-conditioning and it can be miserable to feel like you are taking your meal in an icebox while shivering throughout the experience. An extra layer will go a long way in helping you enjoy your time indoors.

January

January is, on average, the coldest, driest month of the year with average highs around 62°, and lows around 39°.

January can be a fantastic month to visit given the combination of mild weather and sunny days, without the punishing effects of humidity.

However, random cold fronts (hilariously referred to as “Arctic snaps” in the local news media) can blow in from time to time making for a few days of bitter misery, though not nearly bitter enough to actually be “Arctic.”

February

February is very similar to January with average highs in the mid-60s and lows around 42°, with gradual warming as March approaches.

Typically, rain chances stay minimal throughout the month of February so don’t expect too much moisture.

Again, February can be a lovely time to visit (come for the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo) but can also be a nightmare too!

In the last few years, February has produced some crazy weather including 2-3 days of ice in 2023, and a major winter storm in 2021 that saw nearly a week of record lows (we’re talking temperatures in the tens and teens), record snowfall, and ice, resulting in massive, widespread power outages as the Texas grid failed to keep up with the demand. While that is certainly the exception and not the rule, be prepared for the possibility that your SA trip will coincide with a cold front that has the potential to shut down the city.

March

With warming temps, March is when spring really begins in San Antonio. Average highs are around 74° and lows are around 50°.

March is still a fairly dry month, but rain chances will slowly start increasing. Given the usual beautiful weather, March is typically a great time to visit San Antonio, that is, unless you have allergies.

As the temperature warms, the Live Oak trees, the most common trees in SA, will start budding and create a “weather” event that those of us in the Alamo city call, the “pollening.” One morning, sometime in the middle of March, SA residents will awaken to find that everything outside – sidewalks, streets, cars, trash cans, pets – is covered in a yellowish/greenish layer of pollen. Almost like a light dusting of snow that occurs in a short matter of hours. If you suffer from seasonal allergies or hay fever, March can be brutal, so do your research.

April

April is a significantly warmer and wetter month than March, with highs in the 80s, lows around the upper 50s, and a chance of precipitation 2x what it is normally in March.

April tends to dance back and forth between spring and summer so it can be a nice time to visit with balmy weather, or it can start to get really hot and humid. Bear in mind, the allergy conditions remain painful throughout April but will taper off next month.

If you plan to come in April, try to time your visit to coincide with Fiesta San Antonio. For more information, check out our complete guide to Fiesta San Antonio.

May

You know the old adage; April showers bring May flowers. Well, in San Antonio, April flowers give way to May showers as May is, on average, the wettest month of the year in the city, with almost 5 inches of average rainfall over the course of the month.

Highs will regularly hover around 90° and lows will be in the low 70s. And with the added moisture, the humidity in May will begin to rise.

June

Hello, summer! The heat is officially on with highs in the mid-90s and consistent lows for the next three months around the mid-70s.

Humidity will continue making each day both hot and sticky. Rain chances stay fairly high for the remainder of this month before decreasing next month.

July and August (aka the hell months)

Long and hot – that’s July and August for you. The two hottest months of the year happen to fall back-to-back and make for a painstaking 2+ months of heat and humidity where every day is just about the same – blistering and uncomfortable.

The average high will be in the upper 90s and lows in the mid-70s. The bulk of the year’s triple-digit heat will occur during these two months (though 100+ days usually begin sometime in June and end sometime in September).

September

If you can picture a bell curve in your mind with the peak happening in July/August, September will mirror June, and begin to see an easing of temperatures.

But don’t get out your winter coats just yet – highs will remain in the low 90s and lows in the low 70s, with a slightly higher chance of precipitation than exists the two previous months.

It may be fall in the rest of the United States, but September is still fully entrenched in summer in south Texas.

October

October provides a welcome respite from the heat as temperatures really start to cool off, making October look a lot like a wetter version of April.

Average highs are around 82° and lows are around 59°.

You will likely be able to wear shorts and short sleeves for much, if not all, of the month of October, but you will no longer be cooking in your car or sweating buckets anymore.

November

Blessed November – the month that locals have been waiting for. November is usually a beautiful time in SA with daily highs around 70° and lows in the upper 40s.

Rain chances exist but are in the process of decreasing as the days head into winter, meaning November is usually sunny, dry, and gloriously mild. If you are planning a trip to the Alamo City – come now!