It’s that time of year again. The snow has fallen, the holiday cheer is in the air, and it’s time to start planning Christmas vacations! If you’re thinking about heading south for a change of scenery this year, you might have one question on your mind: does it snow in Texas?
We’ll answer that question and more so you can plan your trip with confidence.
- What you need to know more about Texas
- Does It Really Snow in Texas?
- History of Snow in Texas
- What Places in Texas Have the Most Snow?
- Get Ready With Your Winter Clothes & Accessories
- What About the Christmas Spirit?
- The Most Popular Places in Texas During Christmas Time
- Other Places in Texas to During Winter
- What Are the Tips Before Going to Texas?
- Conclusion
What you need to know more about Texas
Texas is located in the southern central part of North America and has a population of 29 million (2019). The state covers an area of 268,338 square miles (696,200 km) and it has borders with Oklahoma to the north & northeast. There are a total number of cities & towns in Texas that are over 100,000+. The most popular places in Texas are Houston, San Antonio & Dallas.
Texas is known for its culture, heritage and diversity. There are plenty of activities to do in Texas with a variety of sports or outdoor adventures available throughout the state. The most popular sport played in Texas is American football.
The weather in Texas is typically mild with the exceptions of heat waves in July and August. If you want to visit Texas during Christmas time, there is a good chance that it might snow on your trip if you go to higher elevations such as El Paso or Amarillo.
Does It Really Snow in Texas?
Yes, it actually does snow in Texas!
In fact, there is a chance that you might find some Christmas cheer while visiting El Paso or Amarillo. However, if your trip to the southern part of Texas doesn’t include these locations then chances are good that you can still have a white Christmas with highs hovering around 50°F (12°C).
Now that you know does it snow in Texas and where, the only question left to ask yourself is: when should I go? The short answer would be between December and February. This time period also happens to produce some of the best weather for your trip with mild temperatures ranging from highs around 70°F (21°C) and lows around 40°F (11°C).
History of Snow in Texas
In general, even the colder parts of Texas may be considered snow-free nearly every year. But, there have been a number of significant snowstorms and cold snaps reported, which are worth noting.
In February 1956, Vega was buried in 61 inches of snow when northern Texas experienced its greatest blizzard on record. On December 13-14, 1987, they recorded 22.4 inches of snowfall in a 24-hour period.
The most severe winter in Texas occurred in December 1983, when four weather stations recorded readings of 32 F for the longest period. Temperatures in Lubbock dropped below freezing for 207 hours, and the Dallas-Fort Worth airport recorded temperatures below freezing for 296 hours.
February 2021 was a particularly harsh winter in Texas, when the state experienced one of its coldest and most prolonged periods. Austin with temperatures below freezing for seven days in a row, tying a record set in 1886. Waco broke a local record by staying frozen for nine days in a row.
What Places in Texas Have the Most Snow?
Snow has been reported in the following places in Texas:
El Paso
The most famous place that has snow in Texas. It gets about 15 inches of precipitation each year, although recent years have been somewhat warmer with only a few flakes here and there.
Amarillo
Another city in the panhandle region where you can expect to see some white stuff on Christmas day every once in a while, averaging around 13 inches of snow a year.
South Padre Island
Not exactly the city you’d expect to see in Texas, but it is located on an island off of South Texas and gets about six inches. The last time they got a decent amount was back in 2011 when they had seven inches fall from December 19th through 21st.
Houston
This is the largest city in Texas and usually gets about eight inches of snow per year. The last time it got more than that was back on December 22nd, 2004 when they had 11 inches drop from the sky.
San Antonio
This is another large metropolitan area located in central Texas with drier air to their west & south which makes for a less snowy climate.
Dallas
The DFW area is located in northern Texas with a latitude that puts them on the edge of what’s normal for getting snowfall, but they do get it from time to time since their average annual precipitation level hovers around six inches. The last significant snowfall occurred back in December 2009 when Dallas was hit by a total of eight inches.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
The location of this park is breathtaking, with the four highest peaks in Texas standing at elevations between 3,000 and 8,000 feet. Because the elevation here ranges from 3,000 to over 8,000 feet, you’re sure to encounter snow in the winter. From December until January, high-altitude trekking routes.
These places in Texas are guaranteed to give you a chance at seeing snow. Now it’s up to you when the best time is for your trip.
Get Ready With Your Winter Clothes & Accessories
The most important thing that you need when visiting Texas during the winter time is a coat. Depending on where you are visiting, it might be just enough to wear boots and warm layers such as sweaters & jeans depending on how cold it gets in your location.
What About the Christmas Spirit?
There might not be snow in Texas but there are plenty of places to visit that have all of the holiday cheer! In fact, many people claim that some parts of Texas actually resemble a winter wonderland during December with plenty of lights, activities & celebrations.
There are plenty of cities that have their own holiday traditions including Galveston’s Dickens on The Strand Festival with Victorian-themed events & decorations or the Gaylord Texan Hotel in Grapevine for a chance to see Santa Claus year round!
The Most Popular Places in Texas During Christmas Time
New Braunfels: The city puts on an elaborate display of lights with the New Braunfels Christmas Market attracting thousands to its festive events.
Houston: Do you like parades? Then make sure that your trip includes admiring the beautiful light displays during one of Houston’s holiday parades!
Dallas-Fort Worth, Plano, Frisco & McKinney: These cities also have some of the best Christmas light displays in Texas so you won’t be disappointed!
Wherever your trip takes you during Christmas time, we hope that this blog post has helped to answer at least one question on your mind: does it snow in Texas? Yes and there are plenty of festive activities to do in Texas during the winter season.
Other Places in Texas to During Winter
Texas is home to several cities that have beautiful landscapes & attractions throughout the year. However, there are specific places that become more appealing during the cold season! Here are a few of our favorite suggestions:
Hill Country State Natural Area – Located near Fredericksburg, this state park has plenty of hiking trails for you to take advantage of.
Natural Bridge Caverns – This natural limestone cavern is perfect for those who are interested in learning more about the geology around them!
Longhorn Cavern State Park – Another great place with all kinds of things to learn including history, nature & science! Make sure to visit this park near Burnet.
Palo Duro Canyon – This stunning state park is perfect for those who want to go on a hike, enjoy nature or even bring their horses along!
What Are the Tips Before Going to Texas?
Follow these helpful tips to get ready for your trip to Texas:
- The main thing to remember before going on a trip to Texas during the winter is that it can get cold, so make sure you pack accordingly! This might mean bringing more layers than usual or some heavy-duty boots if you plan on visiting somewhere where snow falls.
- Another thing to keep in mind is that if you are planning on visiting during the winter, check with your local airports just in case they have delays or cancellations due to weather. This might also mean checking bus & train services since both could be impacted by harsh conditions over the course of a few hours!
- Also, make sure that wherever you stay during your trip is equipped with heat just in case the temperature drops low enough to need some extra warmth.
- Make sure to check ahead of time what your activities are for each day since some of them might be outdoors. This will give you a better idea on what to wear and how much clothing/accessories to bring with you so that nothing is left behind!
- Be sure to stay hydrated and eat plenty of snacks along the way since it can get exhausting being out in the cold for long periods of time. It’s also a good idea to bring a map of the city or surrounding areas so that you will know where everything is and how long it takes to get from one location to another.
Conclusion
The surprising answer is yes, it does. We know that this may come as a surprise to many of you who have never seen snow before but the fact is that Dallas receives an average of about 3 inches per year with some years seeing more than others.
While not every day will be snowy in Texas, if you are looking for a white Christmas or just want to see what winter looks like down south then there’s no better place!
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