Where You Can See Snow in Texas

Texas isn’t really known for its wintery wonderland and snowy conditions. And, to be fair, it’s not what we really expect from the Lone Star State anyway.

But every now and then, Austin is dusted with a little bit of snow and we all, collectively and in perfect unison, freak out. Schools close, work grinds to a halt and we like to bask in the novelty of having a bit of this fun, wintery weather… at least, as long as we don't have to drive.

As it turns out, there are some places in Texas that deal with snow fairly regularly. In fact, an entire region of Texas gets almost a foot of snow pretty much each year. If you want to see snow in Texas, then these are the places you’ve gotta go.

Top 5 cities with the most snowfall in Texas

#10. Muleshoe

Average annual snowfall: 9.1 inches

You’ll probably notice that all the cities on this top 10 list are located in the Panhandle region of the state. 

Why? Well, the simple answer is that this area is further north than the rest, so naturally its temperatures are a little cooler than those of the regions further south. 

The more complex answer is that this region, which is at a higher average elevation, receives cold air from Canada and the Rocky Mountains rather than warm air from the Gulf of Mexico. This cold air and high elevation, along with moisture from the cool Pacific Ocean rather than the warm Gulf, means the likelihood of snow is much higher. 

That being said, Muleshoe is on the lower end of the snowfall range here in the Panhandle, though an average snowfall of just over 9 inches is still more impressive than cities closer to the Gulf. Bring a jacket and a windbreaker if you’re visiting this cozy town, as the strong Northerly winds are pretty chilly, especially when it comes with a promise of snow. 

#9. Canyon

Average annual snowfall: 10.8 inches

Winter is a great time to check out Palo Duro Canyon State Park here in aptly-named Canyon, Texas. The valleys and rock formations are impressive enough as it is, but seeing the vibrant geologic formations covered with a dusting of bright white snow is a must-see experience. Be sure to bring microspikes and adequate footwear when walking on these snowy, slushy trails!

#8. Plainview

Average annual snowfall: 10.8 inches

The mild winter weather and more-than-occasional snowfall makes the cooler months a perfect time to explore the outdoors on the trails at the Caprock Canyons State Park, located just an hour from town. Drop off the high plateau on which Plainvew rests and into the deep canyons, crevasses and riverbeds that make up the border of the impressive Llano Estacado — when it’s blanketed in a layer of snow, it’s one of the most peaceful places you could ever hope to visit. 

#7. Dumas

Average annual snowfall: 12.9 inches

Can’t say there’s a whole lot to do here, honestly, but if you’re looking for snow, this is the seventh-best place to find it!

#6. Amarillo

Average annual snowfall: 15.4 inches

Like Canyon, which is just to its south, Amarillo is near Palo Duro Canyon State Park and the gorgeous rock formations within. 

#5. Hereford

Average annual snowfall: 15.9 inches

If you’re looking for the most likely place to get a snow-covered round of golf in, then the John Pitman Golf Club here in Hereford might be your best bet. Otherwise, there’s not too much to do.

#4. Dalhart

Average annual snowfall: 17.1 inches

Tucked into the northwestern-most corner of the state, Dalhart is just a few miles south of Rita Blanca National Grasslands bordering both Oklahoma and New Mexico. Here, you can see the Great Plains in all its glory, including the wintery wonderland it occasionally becomes when the area gets those cold, northerly winter storms. 

#3. Pampa

Average annual snowfall: 17.3 inches

This unassuming little town gets the third-highest snowfall in the state, with almost 2.5 feet of fresh pow per year!

#2. Perryton

Average annual snowfall: 17.8 inches

Just seven miles from the northernmost point of Texas, little Perryton bears the brunt of the cold wind and weather rushing south from the Great Plains and Canada. As a result, residents get almost 18 inches of snow!

#1. Borger

Average annual snowfall: 19.3 inches 

Tucked in a shallow valley between some hills just north of Amarillo, Borger gets the highest average snowfall in all of Texas with almost 20 inches of snow recorded each year. 

Average annual snowfall for major Texas cities

Austin: 0.2 inches

Austin doesn’t get a lot of snow, which you probably already know if you’ve lived anywhere near our luxury Austin apartments. If we’re lucky, we might get just over an inch at a time… though that’s only happened once since 2010.

If you were around in November of 1937, however, you’d have been in the thick of the snowiest month on record. A whopping 11 inches of snow fell in one sitting, making this wintery night 87 years ago the  most magical of them all. 

Dallas: 1.3 inches

Dallas averages about 1.3 inches of snowfall per year, but the city has seen yearly snowfalls totalling up to 17.6 inches in the past. In 1978, Dallas saw 13.5 inches of snowfall in February alone!

Houston: 0.0 inches

With the warm Gulf winds and the high humidity, it’s no wonder that coastal Houston gets almost no snow at all. The average snowfall for this city is recorded as exactly 0.0 inches, but don’t think that the city has never seen a wintery wonderland.

In 1895 on Valentine’s Day, Houston residents were dumped with 20 inches of snow over the course of just one day. Talk about a snow day!

San Antonio: 0.4 inches

Ninety years after Houston’s record snowfall, San Antonio also experienced its record-breaking snowfall event. The early morning hours of January 11, 1985 saw the first sprinkles of snow fall on this South Texas city, and by the end of January 12 there was 13 inches of snow on the ground. There hasn’t been that much snow in San Antonio ever since!

Happy winter!

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Featured photo by Zachary Edmundson on Unsplash