Get Ready This Texas City Had the Coldest Day Ever

The Coldest Days in Texas History: What Was the Coldest Day Ever?

Mother Nature Has Her Own Schedule

Back in late October, when the new Farmers' Almanac was released, I confidently predicted that its forecast for a pre-Christmas cold front in Texas would miss the mark. I went even further to predict that we wouldn’t get the real chill of winter until after Valentine’s Day week in February. Wow was I ever wrong, as all my fellow Texans across the the Lone Star State are right this very minute bundling up to fend off these icy winds and wet winter weather, I’ll say it again, "YES I WAS WRONG."

This week, we’re facing temperatures in the lower  okay according oh that's why20s, with wind chills dipping into the teens. When I step outside it feels like one of the coldest days I've ever felt here in West Texas. However, as cold as it seems, Texas has had much, much harsher weather in its history, with record-breaking lows that make today’s temperatures seem like a Spring Saturday morning.

A Look Back at Texas’ Coldest Days

One of the most recent coldest days that I can remember happened in December 1989 in San Angelo. On that day, the National Weather Service recorded a bone-chilling temperature of -4°F. Factor in the wind, and it felt closer to -10°F. At those temperatures, can you even feel the difference? Either way, stepping outside that day was a true test of my endurance.

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The Coldest Day in Texas History

However, 1989 was not the coldest day in Texas. Other areas in the Lone Star State have felt the wrath of Mother Nature's cold shoulder to the most extreme conditions, as you’ll see in the historical records below. According to the National Weather Service, the coldest temperature ever recorded in Texas occurred on February 8th, 1933, in Seminole, Texas. The mercury dropped to a staggering -23°F. To put that into perspective, that's colder than most cold weather regions like the North Pole, or better yet colder than a mother-in-law's shoulder.

February: Texas’ Coldest Month

While it’s tempting to pack away the coats and dream of warmer days, February often serves as a reminder that winter isn’t over yet. Meteorologists warn that Texas could still face another "cold slap" before spring arrives. Who can forget that Sunday when we were all getting dressed for Easter and there was several inches of snow on the ground here in West Texas.

Fortunately, the forecast for this weekend predicts a bit of relief, with temperatures climbing back into the upper 40s and lower 50s. It might not be the time for swimsuits, but I’m already planning a trip to the store for some sunscreen. For the record I am a warm weather guy, bring it on mother nature.

A Look at Historical Texas Lows by City

Here’s a brief look at some of the coldest temperatures ever recorded across the Lone Star State:

• Abilene - 9°F below zero set in 1947
• Amarillo - 19°F below zero set in 1899
• Austin - 2°F below zero set in 1949
• Beaumont - 10°F degrees set in 1906
• Brownsville - 12°F degrees set in 1899
• Corpus Christi - 11°F degrees set in 1899
• Dallas/Fort Worth - 8°F below zero set in 1899
• Dalhart: -21°F below zero set in 1951
• Del Rio - 10°F degrees set in 1989
• El Paso - 8°F below zero set in 1962
• Galveston - 8°F degrees set in 1899
• Houston - 5°F degrees set in 1930 and 1940
• Lubbock - 17°F below zero set in 1933
• Midland/Odessa - 11°F below zero set in 1985
• San Angelo - 4°F below zero set in 1989
• San Antonio - 0°F degrees set in 1949
• Seminole: -23°F below zero set in 1933
• Waco - 5°F below zero set in 1949 and 1899
• Wichita Falls - 12°F below zero set in 1947
  Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration /  National Weather Service office

As cold as it feels now, these records remind us that Texas winters can be unpredictable and brutal. Stay warm out there, and keep an eye on the forecast Mother Nature loves to surprise us.