Editing Galveston, Texas (section)

==Geography==
{{Further|Galveston Island |Galveston Bay}}
[[File:GalvestonTXFromTheISS.jpg|thumb|Galveston, from the [[International Space Station]] ]]
[[File:Salt Marsh Near Galveston.jpg|thumb|Salt marsh near Galveston]]
The city of Galveston is situated on Galveston Island, a [[barrier island]] off the [[Texas]] Gulf coast near the mainland coast. Made up of mostly sand-sized particles and smaller amounts of finer mud sediments and larger gravel-sized sediments, the island is unstable, affected by water and weather, and can shift its boundaries through erosion.

The city is about {{convert|45|mi}} southeast of downtown Houston.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rock Sediment and Soil Facts, Galveston Island |work=Geologic Wonders of Texas, University of Texas |access-date=October 3, 2009 |url=http://www.beg.utexas.edu/UTopia/coastal/coastal_rock.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626105343/http://www.beg.utexas.edu/UTopia/coastal/coastal_rock.html |archive-date=June 26, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The island is oriented generally northeast-southwest, with the Gulf of Mexico on the east and south, West Bay on the west, and [[Galveston Bay]] on the north. The island's main access point from the mainland is the [[Interstate 45|Interstate Highway 45]] causeway that crosses West Bay on the island's northeast side.

A deepwater channel connects Galveston's harbor with the Gulf and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|211.31|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|41.04|sqmi|sqkm|2}} are land and {{convert|170.27|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, or 80.31%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023"/> The island is {{convert|50|mi|km}} southeast of [[Houston]].<ref>Woodhams, Susie. [http://www.boston.com/travel/getaways/us/articles/2011/06/05/after_ike_a_deluge_of_reinvention/ "After Ike, a deluge of reinvention"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710024301/http://www.boston.com/travel/getaways/us/articles/2011/06/05/after_ike_a_deluge_of_reinvention/ |date=July 10, 2012}} ''[[Boston Globe]]''. June 5, 2011. Retrieved on June 6, 2011.</ref>

The western portion of Galveston is referred to as the "West End", roughly corresponding to the area west of the western end of the seawall. Communities in eastern Galveston (the area east of the western end of the seawall) include Havre Lafitte, Offats Bayou, Central City, Fort Crockett, Bayou Shore, Lasker Park, Carver Park, Kempner Park, Old City/Central Business District, San Jacinto, East End, and Lindale.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Map 1. Galveston's Neighborhoods |author=D. Freeman |access-date=October 4, 2009 |url=http://www.co.galveston.tx.us/Community_Services/Report%20Card/Maps/sld001.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206095330/http://www.co.galveston.tx.us/community_services/report%20card/Maps/sld001.htm |archive-date=December 6, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2009 many residents of the west end use [[golf carts]] as transportation to take them to and from residential houses, the Galveston Island Country Club, and stores. In 2009, Chief of Police Charles Wiley said he believed golf carts should be prohibited outside golf courses, and West End residents campaigned against any ban on their use.<ref>Jones, Leigh. [http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=231734ee39c715f6 "Council to consider golf cart committee"].{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} ''[[Galveston County Daily News]]''. November 9, 2009. Retrieved on June 11, 2012.</ref>

In 2011 [[Rice University]] released a study, "Atlas of Sustainable Strategies for Galveston Island", which argued the West End of Galveston was quickly eroding and the city should reduce construction and/or population in that area. It recommended against any rebuilding of the West End in the event of damage from another hurricane.<ref>Rice, Harvey. [http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Galveston-Island-gets-tough-advice-from-Rice-study-2238312.php "Galveston Island gets tough advice from Rice study"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518221721/http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Galveston-Island-gets-tough-advice-from-Rice-study-2238312.php |date=May 18, 2012}}, ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'', October 26, 2011, Retrieved on October 24, 2012</ref>

{{wide image|Galveston East End Panoramic.jpg|1200px|The city of Galveston looking east toward the Gulf of Mexico. Downtown Galveston and the [[Strand Historic District]] are behind while East Beach and the [[University of Texas Medical Branch]] Children's Hospital and [[Shriners Hospitals for Children|Shriners Children's Burns Hospital]] are to straight ahead.}}

===Historic districts===
[[File:Trube Castle.jpg|200px|thumb|Galveston has many restored Victorian homes.]]
Galveston is home to six historic districts with over 60 structures listed representing architectural significance in the National Register of Historic Places.<ref name="NATLREG">{{Cite web|title=Texas (TX), Galveston County |work=National Register of Historical Places |access-date=October 3, 2009 |url=http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/TX/Galveston/districts.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822023108/http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/TX/Galveston/districts.html |archive-date=August 22, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Silk Stocking National Historic District, between Broadway and [[Seawall Boulevard]] and bounded by Ave. K, 23rd St., Ave. P, and 26th St., contains a collection of historic homes constructed from the Civil War through World War II.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Silk Stocking National Historic District |access-date=April 15, 2009 |url=http://silkstockinggalveston.org/aboutsshd.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230140541/http://silkstockinggalveston.org/aboutsshd.html |archive-date=December 30, 2010}}</ref> The [[East End Historic District (Galveston, Texas)|East End Historic District]] on both sides of Broadway and Market Streets, contains 463 buildings. Other historic districts include Cedar Lawn, Denver Court and [[Fort Travis]].<ref name="NATLREG"/>

The [[Strand National Historic Landmark District]] is a [[National Historic Landmark|National Historic Landmark District]] of mainly [[Victorian era]] buildings that have been adapted for use as restaurants, antique stores, historical exhibits, museums and art galleries. The area is a major [[tourist attraction]] for the island city. It is the center for two very popular seasonal [[festival]]s. It is widely considered the island's shopping and entertainment center. Today, "the Strand" is generally used to refer to the five-block business district between 20th and 25th streets in downtown Galveston, near the city's wharf.

===Oleander City===
[[File:Original Oleander Planting in Galveston.jpg|thumb|The first Oleander in Galveston, planted in 1841]]
Since the early 20th century, Galveston has been popularly known as the 'Oleander City'<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000034503 |title=Oleanders...<!-- ellipsis in the original -->a must in Brenda's Garden! |publisher=guidrynews.com |date=May 1, 2011 |access-date=July 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801182850/http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000034503 |archive-date=August 1, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> because of a long history of cultivating ''[[Nerium oleander]]'', a [[subtropical]] evergreen shrub which thrives on the island.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wintertexansonline.com/galveston_s_oleander_festival.htm |title=Galveston's Oleander Festival |publisher=WinterTexans Online |access-date=July 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817082340/http://www.wintertexansonline.com/galveston_s_oleander_festival.htm |archive-date=August 17, 2010|url-status=usurped}}</ref> Oleanders are a defining feature of the city; when flowering (between April and October) they add masses of color to local gardens, parks, and streets. Thousands were planted in the recovery following the Hurricane of 1900 and Galvestonians continue to treasure the plant for its low water needs, tolerance of heat, salt spray and sandy soils.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://oleander.org/oleander-history/ |title=Handbook on Oleanders |author=Richard & Mary Ellen Eggenberger |year=1996 |access-date=July 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708072642/http://oleander.org/oleander-history/ |archive-date=July 8, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This makes them especially resistant to the after-effects of hurricanes and tropical storms. Galveston is reputed to have the most diverse range of Oleander cultivars in the world, numbering over 100, with many varieties developed in the city and named after prominent Galvestonians.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://theislandermagazine.com/?p=2611 |title=International Oleander Society |author=Shannon Rowan |work=The Islander Magazine |access-date=July 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730094348/http://theislandermagazine.com/?p=2611 |archive-date=July 30, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2005 the month of May was declared "Oleander Month" by the City of Galveston<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.texashighways.com/the-magazine/item/1614-oleander-festival |title=Oleander Festival |work=Texas Highways |date=July 13, 2012 |access-date=July 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728090017/http://www.texashighways.com/the-magazine/item/1614-oleander-festival |archive-date=July 28, 2017 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref> and there are also Oleander-themed tours of the city exploring the history of the plant on the island. Since 1967 the International Oleander Society has operated in Galveston, which promotes the cultivation of the plant, organizes an Oleander festival every spring and maintains a commemorative Oleander garden in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oleander.org/ |title=International Oleander Society |publisher=International Oleander Society |access-date=July 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705170538/http://oleander.org/ |archive-date=July 5, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/oleander-garden-park |title=Oleander Garden Park |publisher=Atlasobscura.com |access-date=July 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728114454/http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/oleander-garden-park |archive-date=July 28, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Architecture===
[[File:GalvezHotelGalveston.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Galvez Hotel]]]]
[[File:Ashton Villa Galveston Texas.jpg|thumb|right|Ashton Villa]]
[[File:Open-Gates-The George Sealy Mansion.jpg|thumb|Open Gates mansion, built by George Sealy, 1891]]
Galveston contains a large and historically significant collection of 19th-century buildings in the United States. Galveston's architectural preservation and revitalization efforts over several decades have earned national recognition.<ref>{{Cite news|title=National Trust for Historic Preservation Announces 2009 List of America's 11 Most Dangered Historic Places |work=Reuters |access-date=October 1, 2009 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS75679+28-Apr-2009+PRN20090428 |date=April 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122104725/https://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS75679%2B28-Apr-2009%2BPRN20090428 |archive-date=January 22, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Texas (TX), Galveston County |work=National Register of Historical Places |access-date=October 1, 2009 |url=http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/tx/Galveston/state.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201163726/http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/TX/Galveston/state.html |archive-date=December 1, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Located in the Strand District, the [[Grand 1894 Opera House]] is a restored historic [[Romanesque Revival architecture|Romanesque Revival]] style Opera House that is currently operated as a not-for-profit [[performing arts]] theater.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Galveston Grand 1894 Opera House |work=City of Houston eGovernment Center |access-date=October 3, 2009 |url=http://www.houstontx.gov/events/grandoperahouse.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423012708/http://www.houstontx.gov/events/grandoperahouse.html |archive-date=April 23, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Bishop's Palace, Galveston|Bishop's Palace]], also known as Gresham's Castle, is an ornate Victorian house located on Broadway and 14th Street in the East End Historic District of Galveston, Texas. The [[American Institute of Architects]] listed Bishop's Palace as one of the 100 most significant buildings in the United States, and the [[Library of Congress]] has classified it as one of the fourteen most representative Victorian structures in the nation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bishop's Palace – South and West Texas |work=A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary, US National Park Service |access-date=October 3, 2009 |url=http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/tx/tx48.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906003639/http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/tx/tx48.htm |archive-date=September 6, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Galvez Hotel]] is a historic hotel that opened in 1911.<ref name="carmack">Carmack, Liz. [http://www.historictexashotels.com/ ''Historic Hotels of Texas''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310124150/http://historictexashotels.com/ |date=March 10, 2009}}, Texas A&M University Press: College Station, Texas, 2007. pp. 47–49.</ref> The building was named the Galvez, honoring [[Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid, Count of Gálvez]], for whom the city was named. The hotel was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on April 4, 1979. The [[Michel B. Menard House]], built in 1838 and the oldest surviving structure in Galveston, is designed in the [[Greek revival]] style. In 1880, the house was bought by Edwin N. Ketchum who was police chief of the city during the 1900 Storm. The Ketchum family owned the home until the 1970s. [[Ashton Villa]], a red-brick [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] [[Italianate architecture|Italianate]] home, was constructed in 1859 by James Moreau Brown. One of the first brick structures in Texas, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a recorded Texas Historic Landmark. The structure is also the site of what was to become the holiday known as [[Juneteenth]], where on June 19, 1865, [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] General Gordon Granger, standing on its balcony, read the contents of "General Order No. 3", thereby emancipating all slaves in the state of [[Texas]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ashton Villa – South and West Texas |work=A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary, US National Park Service |access-date=October 3, 2009 |url=http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/tx/tx49.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907003120/http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/tx/tx49.htm |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="handbook">{{Cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/gga04 |work=Texas State Historical Society: Handbook of Texas |author=Judy D. Schiebel |title=ASHTON VILLA |access-date=May 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710014707/http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/gga04 |archive-date=July 10, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="NPS">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/tx/tx49.htm|title=Ashton Villa |work=National Park Service |access-date=May 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907003120/http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/tx/tx49.htm |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

St. Joseph's Church was built by German immigrants in 1859–1860 and is the oldest wooden church building in Galveston and the oldest [[German Catholics|German Catholic]] Church in Texas.<ref>{{Cite web|title=1859 St. Joseph's Church |work=Galveston Historical Foundation |access-date=October 3, 2009 |url=http://www.galvestonhistory.com/1859_St_Josephs_Church1.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711070613/http://www.galvestonhistory.com/1859_St_Josephs_Church1.asp |archive-date=July 11, 2011}}</ref> The church was dedicated in April 1860, to St. Joseph, the patron saint of laborers. The building is a wooden [[gothic revival]] structure, rectangular with a square bell tower with [[trefoil]] window. The U.S. Custom House began construction in 1860 and was completed in 1861. The [[Confederate Army]] occupied the building during the [[American Civil War]], In 1865, the Custom House was the site of the ceremony officially ending the Civil War.<ref>{{Cite web|title=More About the 1861 Custom House |work=Galveston Historical Foundation |access-date=October 3, 2009 |url=http://www.galvestonhistory.org/1861_US_Custom_House1.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220011343/http://galvestonhistory.org/1861_US_Custom_House1.asp |archive-date=February 20, 2009 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Galveston During the Civil War |work=Institute of Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M University |access-date=October 3, 2009 |url=http://nautarch.tamu.edu/projects/denbigh/galv01.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912055914/http://nautarch.tamu.edu/projects/denbigh/galv01.htm |archive-date=September 12, 2009}}</ref>

Galveston's modern architecture include the [[American National Insurance Company]] Tower ([[One Moody Plaza]]), San Luis Resort South and North Towers, The Breakers Condominiums, The Galvestonian Resort and Condos, One Shearn Moody Plaza, US National Bank Building, the Rainforest Pyramid at Moody Gardens, [[John Sealy Hospital]] Towers at UTMB and Medical Arts Building (also known as Two Moody Plaza).

===Climate===
Galveston's climate is classified as [[humid subtropical climate|humid subtropical]] (''Cfa'' in [[Köppen climate classification#Group C: Temperate/mesothermal climates|Köppen climate classification system]]),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Weather Stats |work=Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau |access-date=October 11, 2008 |url=http://www.visithoustontexas.com/media/statistics/Houston_Stats_Weather |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230150744/http://www.visithoustontexas.com/media/statistics/Houston_Stats_Weather |archive-date=December 30, 2008}}</ref> and is part of USDA Plant [[hardiness zone]] 10a.<ref>{{cite web|title=USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map |url=http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/ |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |access-date=December 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227032333/http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/ |archive-date=February 27, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Prevailing winds from the south and southeast bring moisture from the [[Gulf of Mexico]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Weather Stats |work=Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau |access-date=October 11, 2008 |url=http://www.visithoustontexas.com/media/statistics/Houston_Stats_Weather |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230150744/http://www.visithoustontexas.com/media/statistics/Houston_Stats_Weather |archive-date=December 30, 2008}}<br /> Melosi (2007), p. 13</ref> Summer temperatures regularly exceed {{convert|90|°F}} and the area's humidity drives the [[heat index]] even higher, while nighttime lows average around {{convert|80|°F}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/golf/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/77573?from=tenDay_bottomnav_undeclared |publisher=The Weather Channel |title=Monthly Averages for League City, TX (77573) |access-date=October 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019173244/http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/golf/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/77573?from=tenDay_bottomnav_undeclared |archive-date=October 19, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/max90temp.html |title=National Climatic Data Center |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]], [[United States Department of Commerce]] |date=June 23, 2004 |access-date=December 14, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210082240/http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/max90temp.html |archive-date=December 10, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/rh.html |title=Average Relative Humidity |publisher=Department of Meteorology at the [[University of Utah]] |access-date=December 14, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209105754/http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/rh.html <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archive-date=December 9, 2006}}</ref> Winters in the area are temperate with typical January highs above {{convert|60|°F}} and lows near {{convert|50|°F}}. Snowfall is generally rare; however, {{convert|15.4|in|cm|1|abbr=on}} of snow fell in February 1895, making the 1894–95 winter the snowiest on record. Annual rainfall averages well over {{convert|40|in|mm}} a year with some areas typically receiving over {{convert|50|in|mm}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/77573 |title=Monthly Averages for League City, TX (77573) |publisher=The Weather Channel web site |access-date=October 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206060719/http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/77573 |archive-date=December 6, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/77506 |title=Monthly Averages for Pasadena, TX (77573) |publisher=The Weather Channel web site |access-date=October 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019172821/http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/77506 |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Temperatures reaching {{convert|20|°F|0}} or {{convert|100|°F|0}} are quite rare, having last occurred on December 23, 1989, and [[Summer 2012 North American heat wave|June 25, 2012]], respectively.<ref name= "NOWData NWS Houston-Galveston TX (HGX)"/> Record temperatures range from {{convert|8|°F|0}} on [[Great Blizzard of 1899#Arctic cold|February 12, 1899]], up to {{convert|104|°F|0}} on September 5, 2000; the record cold maximum is {{convert|25|°F|0}} on February 7, 1895, and again on the date of the all-time low, while, conversely, the record warm minimum is {{convert|87|°F|0}} set on August 31{{spaced ndash}}September 3, 2020.<ref name= "NOWData NWS Houston-Galveston TX (HGX)"/> On average, the warmest night is at {{convert|84|F|C}}, seldom straying far from averages.<ref name= "NOWData NWS Houston-Galveston TX (HGX)"/>

[[Hurricane]]s are an ever-present threat during the summer and fall season, which puts Galveston in Coastal Windstorm Area. [[Galveston Island]] and the [[Bolivar Peninsula]] are generally at the greatest risk among the communities near the Galveston Bay. However, though the island and peninsula provide some shielding, the bay shoreline still faces significant danger from storm surge.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Berger, Eric |url=http://blogs.chron.com/sciguy/archives/2008/09/post_39.html |title=Would a category 3 hurricane surge flood your home? |work=Houston Chronicle |date=September 9, 2008 |access-date=October 15, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090120033052/http://blogs.chron.com/sciguy/archives/2008/09/post_39.html |archive-date=January 20, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna26676728 |title=Wide Ike and shallow coast mean strong surge |publisher=NBC News |date=September 12, 2008 |access-date=October 15, 2009 |quote=Houston is buffered by Galveston Island—which sits in the way of the surge—and the bay system |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715020425/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26676728/ |archive-date=July 15, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author=Spinner, Kate |url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090531/article/905311057?Title=Hurricane-forecasters-zero-in-on-threat-of-surge |access-date=October 15, 2009 |title=Hurricane forecasters zero in on threat of surge |work=Sarasota Herald Tribune |date=May 31, 2009 |quote=Just north of Galveston Island, the Bolivar Peninsula shields Galveston Bay much like Lido Key and Longboat Key shield Sarasota Bay. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605103443/http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090531/article/905311057?Title=Hurricane-forecasters-zero-in-on-threat-of-surge |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Talks of building a coastal storm barrier with a mix of federal and state funding to protect Galveston and Houston have been ongoing for years.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Irvine |first=Bethany |date=January 21, 2022 |title=Texas may get a coastal storm barrier, but will it be too late? |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/21/texas-coastal-spine-storm-surge-houston-galveston/ |access-date=January 21, 2022 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Galveston, Texas ([[Scholes International Airport at Galveston|Scholes Int'l]]), 1991−2020 normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said thread from 1991 to 2020, i.e. the COOP station from January 1981 to December 1996, and Scholes Int'l from January 1997 to December 2010.}} extremes 1871−present{{efn|Official records for Galveston were kept at an unknown location from April 1871 to August 1946, at the COOP station from September 1946 to December 1996, and at Scholes Int'l since January 1997. The temperature record dates back to June 1874. Therefore, precipitation day normals are not currently available at Scholes Int'l. For more information, see [http://threadex.rcc-acis.org/ ThreadEx] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060519074347/http://threadex.rcc-acis.org/ |date=May 19, 2006 }}.}}
|collapsed = Y
|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 81
|Feb record high F = 83
|Mar record high F = 89
|Apr record high F = 95
|May record high F = 94
|Jun record high F = 100
|Jul record high F = 101
|Aug record high F = 100
|Sep record high F = 104
|Oct record high F = 94
|Nov record high F = 86
|Dec record high F = 82

|Jan avg record high F = 74.1
|Feb avg record high F = 75.8
|Mar avg record high F = 79.2
|Apr avg record high F = 83.9
|May avg record high F = 88.2
|Jun avg record high F = 92.5
|Jul avg record high F = 93.5
|Aug avg record high F = 95.6
|Sep avg record high F = 93.6
|Oct avg record high F = 88.1
|Nov avg record high F = 81.4
|Dec avg record high F = 76.5
|year avg record high F = 96.4

|Jan high F = 63.2
|Feb high F = 66.4
|Mar high F = 72.0
|Apr high F = 78.0
|May high F = 84.0
|Jun high F = 89.5
|Jul high F = 91.3
|Aug high F = 92.0
|Sep high F = 88.7
|Oct high F = 82.1
|Nov high F = 72.4
|Dec high F = 65.5
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 56.0
|Feb mean F = 59.3
|Mar mean F = 65.2
|Apr mean F = 71.5
|May mean F = 78.2
|Jun mean F = 82.8
|Jul mean F = 85.5
|Aug mean F = 85.9
|Sep mean F = 82.4
|Oct mean F = 75.3
|Nov mean F = 65.5
|Dec mean F = 58.5
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 48.9
|Feb low F = 52.3
|Mar low F = 58.4
|Apr low F = 65.0
|May low F = 72.4
|Jun low F = 78.1
|Jul low F = 79.7
|Aug low F = 79.8
|Sep low F = 76.1
|Oct low F = 68.6
|Nov low F = 58.7
|Dec low F = 51.6
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 34.5
|Feb avg record low F = 39.0
|Mar avg record low F = 43.6
|Apr avg record low F = 51.6
|May avg record low F = 62.5
|Jun avg record low F = 71.1
|Jul avg record low F = 74.1
|Aug avg record low F = 74.1
|Sep avg record low F = 67.1
|Oct avg record low F = 53.7
|Nov avg record low F = 42.3
|Dec avg record low F = 37.1
|year avg record low F = 32.3

|Jan record low F = 11
|Feb record low F = 8
|Mar record low F = 26
|Apr record low F = 38
|May record low F = 50
|Jun record low F = 57
|Jul record low F = 66
|Aug record low F = 67
|Sep record low F = 52
|Oct record low F = 39
|Nov record low F = 26
|Dec record low F = 14

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 4.30
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.14
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.02
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.06
|May precipitation inch = 3.04
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.23
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.41
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.71
|Sep precipitation inch = 6.65
|Oct precipitation inch = 5.15
|Nov precipitation inch = 4.28
|Dec precipitation inch = 4.23
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 9.4
|Feb precipitation days = 7.7
|Mar precipitation days = 7.1
|Apr precipitation days = 5.8
|May precipitation days = 5.2
|Jun precipitation days = 8.5
|Jul precipitation days = 8.7
|Aug precipitation days = 8.3
|Sep precipitation days = 9.6
|Oct precipitation days = 7.4
|Nov precipitation days = 7.7
|Dec precipitation days = 9.7

|Jan snow inch = 0.0
|Feb snow inch = 0.0
|Mar snow inch = 0.0
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.0
|Dec snow inch = 0.1
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.0
|Feb snow days = 0.0
|Mar snow days = 0.0
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.1

|Jan sun = 145.0
|Feb sun = 163.4
|Mar sun = 209.0
|Apr sun = 225.5
|May sun = 265.7
|Jun sun = 298.5
|Jul sun = 309.0
|Aug sun = 280.4
|Sep sun = 237.9
|Oct sun = 237.2
|Nov sun = 176.9
|Dec sun = 150.5
|year sun=2699.0
|Jan percentsun = 44
|Feb percentsun = 52
|Mar percentsun = 56
|Apr percentsun = 58
|May percentsun = 63
|Jun percentsun = 71
|Jul percentsun = 72
|Aug percentsun = 69
|Sep percentsun = 64
|Oct percentsun = 67
|Nov percentsun = 55
|Dec percentsun = 47
|year percentsun= 61
|source 1 = NOAA (sun 1961–1990)<ref name="NOWData NWS Houston-Galveston TX (HGX)">{{cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=hgx |title=NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=September 4, 2020 |archive-date=May 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517041549/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=hgx |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=NOAAsun>{{cite web|url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72242.TXT |title=WMO Climate Normals for Galveston, TX 1961–1990 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=September 9, 2015}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00012923&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Galveston Scholes FLD, TX |access-date=February 7, 2023}}</ref>
}}

Notes: {{notelist}}