Texas is widely known for its warm climate, often surprising many with the reality that snow does indeed fall within its vast borders. While much of the state rarely experiences significant snowfall, specific regions receive winter precipitation with some regularity. Understanding where and why snow occurs in Texas reveals a dynamic interplay of geography and atmospheric conditions.
The Panhandle and North Texas
The Texas Panhandle consistently experiences the most frequent and significant snowfall in the state. Cities like Amarillo and Lubbock, situated on the high plains, see snow each winter. Amarillo averages 14 to 17.9 inches of snow annually, with measurable snowfall occurring from September to May. December and January are typically the snowiest months, though substantial snowfalls have also happened in March.
Snow in this region often melts within a few days. Heavier events of 10 inches or more can lead to near-blizzard conditions lasting two to three days, averaging once every five years. Lubbock receives less snow than Amarillo, averaging 7 to 9 inches per year, with the snowiest period from late November to mid-February. These areas are prone to cold fronts from the northern Rocky Mountains and Plains states, bringing sudden temperature drops.
North Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, experiences less snow than the Panhandle but still sees it most winter seasons. The Dallas-Fort Worth area averages 1.5 to 1.7 inches of snow annually, typically occurring one to two days a year. While a trace of snow has been recorded every winter season since the late 1800s, significant accumulations are less common.
West Texas High Plains and Mountains
Snowfall patterns in the elevated regions of West Texas differ from the Panhandle. The High Plains, including cities like El Paso and Midland, receive moderate snowfall due to their higher elevation. Midland averages 4.3 inches of snow annually.
The mountainous areas, particularly the Guadalupe Mountains, often receive more snow than surrounding lower elevations. This is due to orographic lift, where moist air is forced upwards by the mountains, cooling and condensing into precipitation that falls as snow when temperatures are low enough.
Rare Snowfall in Central, East, and South Texas
Snow is a much rarer occurrence in central, eastern, and southern Texas, which are warmer and closer to the Gulf of Mexico’s moisture. Cities like Austin and San Antonio in Central Texas average very little snow, often just a trace or a fraction of an inch annually. When snow does fall, it is often a light dusting that melts quickly.
East Texas, including Houston, rarely sees significant snow, averaging about 0.1 inches annually. Similarly, South Texas cities like Brownsville and McAllen experience snow even less frequently, with some years passing without any measurable snowfall.
Key Factors for Texas Snow
The occurrence of snow in Texas relies on a specific combination of atmospheric conditions. The primary factor is sufficiently cold air, typically from Arctic or polar air masses pushing southward into the state.
For snow to form and reach the ground, temperatures throughout the atmospheric column, from the cloud base to the surface, must be at or below freezing (32°F or 0°C). Adequate moisture is also necessary for precipitation to develop.
This moisture often comes from the Gulf of Mexico, drawn northward to interact with the cold air mass. These factors align more frequently in the northern and western parts of Texas due to their higher latitudes and elevations, which naturally experience colder temperatures more often.