Snow does occur in Houston, Texas, but it is an extremely uncommon occurrence. The city’s subtropical climate and location on the Gulf Coast make snowfall an anomaly rather than a regular seasonal event. While most years may see a few flurries, measurable snow that sticks to the ground is a notable event for residents.
The Rarity of Houston Snowfall
The statistical data underscores the rarity of measurable snow in the Houston area. The city’s average annual snowfall is often officially recorded as zero inches or a trace amount. Measurable snowfall, defined as 0.1 inches or more, happens infrequently, with only about 8 to 14 such events recorded since the late 19th century.
The interval between these events can be many years, making snow an unusual sight for most residents. Trace amounts of snow, which melt almost immediately upon hitting the warm ground, occur more frequently, often on a yearly basis. Houston experiences other forms of winter precipitation more often than snow, such as freezing rain or sleet, which can still cause significant travel and infrastructure issues.
Meteorological Requirements for Snow
The rarity of snow in Houston is due to the specific atmospheric conditions required for it to form and reach the ground. For snow to occur, the temperature must be at or below freezing (32°F or 0°C) throughout the entire column of the atmosphere, not just at the surface. This requirement is the most challenging for the region.
The warm Gulf of Mexico is the main limiting factor, as it injects significant moisture into the atmosphere. When cold air pushes south, this moisture often falls through a layer of warm air aloft, melting the snowflakes into rain or freezing rain before they reach the ground. A true snowfall requires a deep, sustained intrusion of very cold, dry Arctic air to scour out the warm layer above and keep the entire column below freezing.
Notable Historical Snow Events
Despite the infrequency, several memorable snowfalls have occurred throughout Houston’s history. The most significant event on record was in 1895, when 20 inches of snow fell across the area. This historic blizzard remains the benchmark for extreme winter weather in the city.
More recently, Houston experienced a measurable snowfall of 1.4 inches in December 2008. The severe February 2021 winter storm brought a mixture of ice and snow, with about 1 inch of accumulation officially recorded at the city’s airport. Other notable events include 4.4 inches recorded on Valentine’s Day in 1960 and a 3.1-inch snowfall in 1949.