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When does it first snow in Houston (Bush Intercontinental Airport), TX?

At Houston (Bush Intercontinental Airport), the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Dec 10. That is the median over the last 30 snow seasons: half of seasons saw it earlier, half later. In about 1 season in 10 it came by Dec 5, and in 1 in 10 not until Feb 5 or later. The earliest was Dec 4 (2009-10) and the latest Feb 15 (2020-21). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Dec 31, and 13% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Dec 9, and the last freeze of spring around Feb 16.

This season so far (2026-27, data through Oct 16, 2026): no measurable snow recorded yet; no 32°F freeze recorded yet at this station. Compare with the typical dates above. This is observed data and can lag by a day or two, and it is not a forecast.

Dec 10Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Dec 31Median first 1"+ snowfall

0.2"Average snowfall per season

0%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Dec 9Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Feb 16Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

296Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Houston (Bush Intercontinental Airport)

First day with…	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest in 30 seasons	Latest in 30 seasons	Seasons with one
0.1" of snow or more (measurable)	Dec 10	Dec 5 – Feb 5	Dec 4 (2009-10)	Feb 15 (2020-21)	17%
1" of snow or more	Dec 31	Dec 6 – Feb 8	Dec 4 (2009-10)	Feb 15 (2020-21)	13%
3" of snow or more	none recorded				0%

Based on 30 seasons (July–June, 1995-96 to 2024-25) with at least 85% complete daily snowfall records at the station. Dates are for a single day’s snowfall, so "1 inch" means one calendar day with 1" or more, not total accumulation.

Chance the first snow has already happened by a given date

Snowfall	By Nov 1	By Dec 1	By Jan 1
0.1"+ (measurable)	0%	0%	10%
1"+	0%	0%	7%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Jan 16 (median).

White Christmas odds in Houston (Bush Intercontinental Airport)

NOAA defines a white Christmas as at least 1 inch of snow on the ground on the morning of December 25. Using the last 30 years of daily snow-depth records (1995–2024) at this station, Houston (Bush Intercontinental Airport) had that in 0% of years, at least 3 inches in 0%, and at least 6 inches in 0%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 0.0 inches and the deepest was 0 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 0% of years. Based on 30 years with a recorded depth on Dec 25.

Snow cover of 1 inch or more on the ground is rare at this station in any week of the winter.

First and last freeze dates in Houston (Bush Intercontinental Airport)

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Dec 9	Nov 15 – Dec 22	Nov 3 (1999) / Dec 26 (2001)	87%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Feb 16	Jan 20 – Mar 11	–	97%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Jan 18	Jan 5 – Mar 3	–	57%

Based on the station’s daily minimum temperature, 1995–2024. “Freeze” here means a daily low at or below the threshold, which is not the same as visible frost. Your yard can differ by several degrees and days from an airport weather station, so use these as planning odds, not guarantees.

The median stretch between the last spring freeze and the first fall freeze (the freeze-free season) was about 296 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Houston Intercontinental Ap (USW00012960), elevation 90 ft. Data: NOAA NCEI GHCN-Daily. Computed by First Snow Dates; how we calculate this. Historical averages only; for a forecast see weather.gov.

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