 Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle's climate is semi-arid (Köppen climate classification BSk or BSh); both the city and the region as a whole lie in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7. It is characterized by high diurnal temperature variation, day-to-day variability, a rush of cold air from the north or northwest into a warmer area and occasionally, by blizzards during the winter season and a hot summer with low humidity. The normal annual precipitation is 20.4 inches (518 mm), most of it occurring in the late spring and summer months. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 37.0°F (2.8°C) in January to 78.3°F (25.7°C) in July. Sunny weather prevails year-round, with nearly 3300 hours of bright sunshine annually. The National Weather Service in Amarillo forecasts and provides climatic data for the city.
