Does it snow in Houston?
Does it snow in Houston? The short answer is yes! Although we’re sure: you want to know more than that.
Known as Space City and by at least six other nicknames, Houston, the most populous city in the state of Texas, stands as the leading metropolis with the grandest variety of attractions in the entire South of the United States.
Are you looking for culture, local and international gastronomy, modern shopping centers, traditional and interactive museums, zoos, recreational parks, fun experiences, and beautiful green spaces? Houston is the right place for you.
A meaningful part of Houston's fame rests on its two professional sports facilities: the Life Park, home of the 2017 MLB champion Houston Astros, and the Toyota Center, home of the Houston Rockets, NBA champions in 1994 and 1995.
Downtown Houston is also home to the famous Discovery Green urban park: one of the leading nature refuges that Houston citizens go to when they want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
Beyond its green spaces' fun and relaxing experiences, Houston offers a wealth of cultural, historical, and scientific destinations like no other city in the southern United States.
Houston is home to 19 historical and scientific cultural institutions, including NASA's Johnson Space Center (home of mission control for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
One of the reasons why NASA chose the city of Houston as the center for its spaceflight activities and practices is the mild and slightly stormy weather that this city exhibits throughout the year.
Snow in Houston? ❄
Due to its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Bay, Houston exhibits meteorological characteristics typical of a coastal city in the southern United States (subtropical humid [ Köppen, Cfa]).
Winters in Houston are mild and stable, with occasional frosts (13 per year) and average temperatures above 50° F (10 °C).
Given such a meteorological panorama, the snowfalls in Houston are presented as rare and difficult to spot phenomena. The rarity of snowfall in Houston is such that, between 1895 and 2018, measurable snowfall has only been recorded on 38 occasions.
Since the turn of the 21st century, Houston has experienced snowfall of less than an inch in accumulation four separate times: 2004, 2008, 2009, and 2017. All of these occurred during December.
The climate of Houston ⛅
According to the Köppen climate classification, Houston exhibits, without any variation, a humid subtropical climate (Cfb) throughout its 671.67 sq mi land area. This type of climate is characterized by hot and humid summers, mild winters, occasional frosts, abundant precipitation, and little or no snowfall during the winter season.
Despite its large size, Houston has one of the most stable and least stormy climates in the southern United States.
Thanks to its privileged geographic location, Houston remains exempt from the tornadoes coming from Tornado Alley. However, it is not one hundred percent exempt from this type of meteorological phenomenon, mainly due to supercells or rotating storms caused by southerly winds.
Although Houston is a tornado-free territory, as far as flooding is concerned, this city does not suffer the same fate.
As for the rain, Houston's annual rainfall easily exceeds 50 inches on average, reaching 51.84 inches or 1260 mm per year. This condition, coupled with the topography and geology of the city, makes Houston an easy target for flooding. Generally, these floods occur between April and October, in other words, during the wet season in southeast Texas.
Summer weather characteristics
- Highest record temperature: 109 °F / 42.7 °C (September 4th, 2000, and August 27, 2011).
- Mean maximum: 98.85 °F (37.1 °C).
- Average high: 93.03 °F (33.9 °C).
- Average low: 73.85 °F (23.25 °C).
- Mean minimum: 66.33 °F (19 °C).
- Average precipitation per summer month: 4.83 inches (12.2 cm).
- Average precipitation days per summer month (≥ 0.01 inches): 9.
Winter weather characteristics
- Lowest record temperature: 5 °F / -15 °C (February 2nd, 1950).
- Mean maximum: 81.55 °F (27.5 °C).
- Average high: 67.73 °F (19.85 °C).
- Average low: 47.63 °F (8.6 °C).
- Mean minimum: 31.03 °F (-0.5 °C).
- Average precipitation per winter month: 56 inches (142.2 cm).
- Average precipitation days per winter month (≥ 0.01 inches): 9.3.
Precipitation and other weather characteristics
- Average annual precipitation: 51.84 inches (131.6 cm).
- Average precipitation days (≥0.01 in or 0.25 mm): 104.4.
- Biggest snowfall recorded: 20 inches / 50.8 cm (February 14th and 15th, 1895)
- Average frost per year (times): 13.
When does it snow in Houston? 🌨
Does it snow in Houston in November?
No, it does not!
Does it snow in Houston in December?
Yes, it might snow in December. Oddly enough, all of the snow events Houston has experienced in the last twenty years have occurred in December. The most significant recent snowfall ensued during the December 24, 2004 Storm, which left a one-inch snow cover on the city.
This event opened up the possibilities for a possible White Christmas in Houston in the future.
Does it snow in Houston in January?
Yes, it might snow in January (considering the weather conditions that the city exhibits during this month). However, since its founding, Houston has not been hit by a measurable snowstorm in January.
Does it snow in Houston in February?
Yes, it might snow in February. Indeed, the biggest snowstorm in Houston history occurred during this month, specifically between February 14 and 15, 1895.
Does it snow in Houston in March?
No, it does not!
How much does it snow in Houston? 🌨
Next, we present an informative table on different climatological parameters of Houston, which includes the record snowfall expressed in inches:
| Month | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May. | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Annual |
| Average low (°F) | 43.7 | 47.6 | 53.6 | 59.8 | 67.8 | 73.7 | 75.7 | 75.4 | 70.6 | 60.9 | 51.5 | 45.6 | 60.5 |
| Record low (°F) | 5 | 6 | 21 | 31 | 42 | 52 | 62 | 54 | 45 | 29 | 19 | 7 | 5 |
| Average precipitation (inches) | 3.76 | 2.97 | 3.47 | 3.95 | 5.01 | 6.00 | 3.77 | 4.84 | 4.71 | 5.46 | 3.87 | 4.03 | 51.84 |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 10.0 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 7.3 | 8.6 | 10.0 | 9.1 | 8.5 | 8.4 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 9.6 | 104.4 |
| Record snowfall (inches) | 0.0 | 20 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 20 |
The above data comes from climatic data provided by the George Bush International Airport.
Related post → Does it snow in United States of America? | Does it snow in Texas?
Source → WeatherSpark.