Climate: The proximity to the Gulf of Mexico gives the region a climate of mild winters, hot summers, and high humidity most of the year. Average precipitation is a year, with northern areas receiving about , and southern areas receiving about . However, tropical storms and hurricanes can increase annual rainfall to over . Humidity stays well above 60% most of the time and exceeds 90% often. Winters are mild, with nighttime lows averaging and daytime highs . Winter cold fronts can drop temperatures to freezing, but freezes rarely last for more than a few days, sometimes only hours, averaging about 20 mostly nonconsecutive days each year. Snow is rare, occurring only once every ten years or so. Summer temperatures are hot, with nighttime lows averaging and daytime highs averaging . Temperatures exceed about 110 days each year and days with temperatures above and even above are not uncommon. The high summer temperatures with high humidity levels can produce very high heat index numbers.