During winter in Houston, you should not always expect snow, but there is a chance it will happen. The 1983 cold snap caused an estimated $50 to $100 million in damage in Texas at the time (up to about $250 million today). Those snowball fights were good ones and brought about much laughter. December 16: 19 Snow falling heavily downtown in front of the Rice Hotel while an officer directs traffic. Other outdoor activities included sledding, tobogganing, and ice skating. After our company departed to go back home, we continued to watch the snowfall, although it was starting to diminish in intensity. When I was in San Antonio they had about 1/2" of snow one day and they were acting as if it was a foot of snow. What year did it snow on Christmas Day in Houston? I hope you have a very Merry Christmas, Peggy. This day will go down in history as one of the best, and you were there to witness it. I was a lowly undergraduate in December 1989 and took a job loading 18 wheelers (night shift) in between semester to earn some holiday cash. Now i hope there wont be anymore complaining on this board when we get highs in the 80s and low in the 70s and its cloudy and humid. Clothing was different back then, and to stay warm, we bundled up with layers of socks, pants, sweaters, jackets, scarves, hats, mittens, and boots. The January 29-February 3 period remains Houstons coldest stretch of 6 days on record, averaging 26.3 degrees. Where do the Astros stack up in MLB Networks position rankings? December 12: 25 We are buried here, which is good for Christmas but we won't see grass again until March or April. The snow line ran from Cotulla to Cuero to Sugar Land to Winnie. Houstons No. Only the occasional citrus killing frost. Since you used to live here, you probably appreciate more than others how we felt about this rare but exciting day. Really blogging is spreading its wings and growing fast. After a low of 10 on February 8th (the fifth coldest morning on record in Houston), we warmed back up into the 40s through the 11th. Then when we saw it we were all miffed because he got the museums name wrong! I remember seeing those also when I was a child. Azalea trail down here is in early March. I have a copy of that December 23, 1989 Chronicle front page because Im in the photo. In Jan. 1940, 3 inches of snow fell in Houston, and it snowed again in Jan. 1949, dropping 2.6 inches of snow. The temperature is above freezing so it isn't much of a traffic hazard. These snow records are reviewed yearly and updated as new data is recorded. :-) Thanks for your comment and personal experience with this snow in Houston. February 1899 is front and center in the pantheon of cold as well. This is a carousel. 17 How far is Austin from the Mexican border? Great memories for a great hub, Peggy. hub. In my mind, that was the coldest it could get here but we are going well beyond that right now. The last recorded snowfall in Houston was on February 15, 2021. She got 8" of snow that day! Feb. 16, 2021Houston Police officers Kenneth Bigger, center, and Aaron Day, center-right, hand out blankets to people as a winter storm continues to hit the area Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, under the elevated portion of I-45 in downtown Houston. Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on December 14, 2009: Your "iced rain" is definitely what we call hail. We closed the month with 11 straight mornings below freezing, including four full days that failed to crack above 32 degrees. It was afternoon and there werent many patrons at the museum as it was close to Christmas. In northern Texas, however, the National Weather Service has not recorded any snow or ice events since February 2011. Houston Temperature History 2022. In February 2011, there was 28 cm (11 inches) of snow. The earliest snowfall Houston's ever seen was in 2009 when we got an entire inch of snow on Dec. 4. ManlyPoetryMan from (Texas) Boldly Writing Poems Where No Man Has Gone Before on December 05, 2009: Let it SNOWHouston StyleYeehaa! The actual air temperature recorded at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on the morning of Feb. 16 was 13 degrees, officially Houstons coldest reading of the Great Texas Freeze. Cant say I didnt warn you guyz! The last recorded snowfall in Houston was on February 15, 2021. This was surely a banner year for snowplow contractors! . It was fun, albeit unusual, break anyway. Snowman in Houston, Texas! Hope you had as much fun as we did in enjoying that "white stuff" falling from the sky. I realize that this might not be impressive to those of you who live up north and can build your gigantic snowmen each year dressed with colorful woolen neck scarves and other adornments, but hey, whoever made this snowman probably does not even own a woolen neck scarf. SPN has assimilated snow record data from over 220 U.S. Cities including Houston, Texas. Coldest temperature: 10 on 2/8 A rare sight! . Although, 1973 saw four days of snow in Houston between January and February. The two biggest snow events in Corpus Christi were in 2004 and 2017. I just saw KHOU 11 forecast a low of 4 at IAH. But you may not know . BEAUTYBABE from QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA. It was a wow moment because we rarely see snow at all down here. Houston Museum of Natural Science, not natural history. We then had four straight days below freezing all day long. Thanks for sharing your story in this hub about your childhood days. An informal poll was taken at the Houston/Galveston National Weather Service Office recently to determine a list of the . Houston, Texas is a bit too warm for snow to last very long. As to hearing the snow fall when things are quiet, that is understandable as the snow makes contact with trees, ground, etc. My first white Christmas was on Dec. 25, 2004, when I was visiting my mom in South Central Texas (her house is about the halfway point between San Antonio and Corpus). It accumulated a bit on rooftops and grassy areasenough to make it look white all over! December 13: 19 What year did it snow in Houston TX? It truly is a thing of beauty! That tied the dates record low, which was originally set way back in 1895. Enjoy but stay safe and warm. The Marvel star had been hospitalized since New Year's Day . Our AC units are really humming that time of year! In February 2021, snow reached 15 cm (6 in), as it had not happened for decades. Best to take the advice and enjoy the weather anomaly and this rare occasion. Coldest temperature: 7 on 12/23 Sleet and freezing rain are more common than snow in . The closest the Houston metropolitan area came to a white Christmas occurred on December 22, 1989 when 1.7 inches of snow fell at Intercontinental Airport. from BUSTED water pipesthe wife and I assume that the homeowners had gone somewhere else for the holidays.what a horrible way to come home.these several days were the COLDEST days I ever spent in Houstonwrap your outdoor pipes, if your attic is inside your home (not garage) open it slightly to let HEAT into the attic, cover the soffits , outside your house by the kitchen to keep the COLD AIR from hitting your plumbing above you kitchen sink (cardboard works perfectly)..Good Luck! Hope you are enjoying cooler temps too. I'd much rather have the snow! I have a feeling it will. What Are The Low Income Areas In Houston Texas. Winter is also the driest part of the year for Houston. Greatest Amount of Snow in One Day, 4.4in. Coldest temperature: 19 on 1/17 . Great hub and great day! One person was injured and taken to a hospital in Victoria, Texas, authorities said. Some areas around Houston saw nearly a foot of snow. Nights at or below freezing: 6 in a row. Since then I have changed, mainly from the anxiety and sense of derealization and hopelessness." What was the weather like on your birthday or another date in history? Since official records have been kept at Bush Airport (1969), this would rank as the second coldest, with only December 23, 1989 being colder (7 degrees). (Smile) Could suit many of us here. I was in El Paso a number of years ago when it snowed there, they went nuts. During this time of year, sledding was best. agusfanani from Indonesia on December 13, 2009: I didn't know the name of iced rain is hail, thank for sharing. White Christmas. Minneapolis takes the number one spot on our list with a 77 percent likelihood of having at least an inch of snow on the ground for the Christmas holiday. 18. Wonderful momeriesthanks for the photos! James A Watkins from Chicago on December 13, 2009: I loved your Hub, Peg. The current official NWS forecast low for Houston on Tuesday morning (at IAH Airport) is 10 degrees, which would rank as a tie for Houstons 5th coldest morning all-time (back to 1889). The citys December snowfall average is 11.5 inches and the snowiest Christmas on record occurred in 1945 with a snowfall total of 9.6 inches. :-) Thanks for the comment. We wonder if there was a baby boom nine . Im curious about what you think. Its bad in the sense that were likely to endure a longer stretch of temperatures in the mid-20s or colder. 2020/2021. I agree with you that the snow is spectacularly beautiful when new and unsullied by footprints, car tracks, etc. National Weather Service: SoCal Record Highs on Dec. 25, 1980. While this was not really a record-setting event in Houston, other parts of Texas saw some impressive records. Of course, Houstonians now are so used to snow after these past few months that younger kids might think it's rather normal. We have some that bloom several times a year and have had them in bloom all winter thus far. How much snow did you actually get where you live? 1 wealthiest ZIP code is 77005, which encompasses West University, What is the minimum wage in Texas? 2019This is the only occurrence of 70 degree temperatures on Christmas. Send a letter to Santa! We got our first snow last year on Christmas Day-- which was also early, but perfect because the 'flatlander' kids and grandkids were visiting for the holidays. December of 1989 was Houstons coldest December on record back to the 1880s. I have pictures of my mom's blooming rose bushes with snow on them. A rare and record breaking snowfall occurred Christmas Eve into early Christmas morning across south and southeast Texas. Past Snowfall. A winter wonderland was ours to enjoy for a rare moment in time. Back on Feb. 12, 1960 the city got just over four inches of the white snow. This chart shows the nature of all the winter storms over the past season in just 1 minute. If you do not like the coldthen best stay away from snow. Day Selection. Between crop losses and other damage, the cold of December 1989 was estimated at the time to cause $300 to $500 million in damage (up to $1 billion in 2021 dollars) in Southeast and Coastal Texas, according to NOAAs December 1989 StormData publication. Both women's husbands have been in the Southern Pacific Hospital for the past six months. I worked in the yard and it felt so good! It becomes a big event if and when it happens. Snowfall in Dallas is uncommon. The crash happened at about 11 a.m. between Houston and San Antonio. Thanks for commenting on my Wow! Remember the 1997 ice storm? No Peggy, it was the small flakes. Her face was beaming. Is this going to be our new reality? I recall playing in the snow once as a child in North Florida. Ha! MA warning 31 F Snow; Houston, . In the Houston Chronicle front page, last year featured a snowman on the beaches in Galveston. Icy conditions remained on Christmas Day. But you may not know a new record was set just last year when trace amounts of snow fell Nov. 13, 2018, making it the earliest observed snow on record. On December 24, 2004, snow developed and spread over . Yes, I remember the chains. I know what you mean about southern people not knowing how to handle snow on their roadwaysbut then why should they be practiced? Now with the new microfibers, which are lightweight and yet warm, which also repel moisture, people no longer look like the Michelin Tire Man when dressed for the outdoors as we resembled back in those days. The one-day record snowfall for Houston, Texas was recorded on February 12th, 1960 as seen in the chart below. These snow events in Houston and other more southern areas in Texas are rare and relished for that reason. Thanks for your comment. Won't have to run the sprinker system and pay for water. . We'd like to see what birthrates for Houston were like nine months later. Since 1960, around half of the years have seen at least 5% of the network record snow falling on Christmas Day. Susie Lehto from Minnesota on December 08, 2017: Wow, its really a thrill for you folk in Houston to get snow. Brittney Griner surprises fans at MLK Day fest, 'Absolutely': Why Sean Payton is open to taking Texans HC job, What C.J. Behind The List: Houstons wealthiest ZIP codes show more homeowners than renters. I do!! El Pasos coldest February day on record was February 3, 2011. Our temperatures were in the low 20s. on December 06, 2009: What a great day 4th December was for you all in Houston, We don't get snow in this part of Australia where we live. I know you love seeing the snow I dont. Leah Lefler from Western New York on October 29, 2011: It is snowing here in Western NY as I read this - but we're used to snow up here in the great frozen north! Snow falls on traffic at Travis and Texas Ave. in downtown Houston, February 1960. In fact, most everyone in our subdivision got new roofs put on their homes that year. Although, 1973 saw four days of snow in Houston between January and February. Matt, 14 Poorest. Wow! I love the snow. Age and gravity has taken its expected toll. By Kristine Cummings / August 15, 2022. We happened to be hosting lunch today at home for some friends. LOL. Houston sculptor's next giant statue to be installed near Bush airport, 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' removed from Conroe ISD curriculum, 3 men accused of stealing from ATM after busting through glass door. What a treat the snowfall was for you all there such a thrill there for you. The projected high on that most loving of holidays is 75 degrees this year, not very conducive to snow. 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