Thinking about spending Christmas in Texas? You’ll probably get milder weather than most of the country. Most years, Christmas Day brings cool mornings—usually in the 30s or 40s—then afternoons that warm up into the 50s or 60s. Snow doesn’t happen often, but it’s not totally out of the question, especially up in the Panhandle or northern counties.
You might imagine hot cocoa and twinkling lights, but in a lot of Texas, people wear short sleeves and gather outside. The state’s huge, and every region has its own vibe. Amarillo’s chilly plains can feel worlds away from a mild Houston evening.
It helps to know what usually happens around Christmas—whether you’re dreaming of a rare white holiday or just want to know what to pack. The mix of patterns and local quirks is exactly why Texas weather keeps the holidays interesting.
Typical Christmas Weather Patterns in Texas
Christmas weather in Texas flips between mild afternoons and chilly nights. You might get rain or, once in a while, some snow, depending on where you land. Conditions change a lot from Dallas to Houston, Austin, or El Paso.
Average Temperatures Across Texas
December highs usually hang out in the 50s to 60s°F in central and southern Texas. Houston and Austin often reach the upper 50s, while Dallas tends to be a few degrees cooler.
Nights dip into the 30s or low 40s, so you’ll want a jacket for anything after dark.
El Paso in far West Texas stays cooler overall. Highs there hover in the low 50s, and nights sometimes fall into the upper 20s.
The Panhandle gets even colder. Amarillo can see freezing mornings and highs that barely reach the 40s.
Texas sometimes surprises everyone with extremes on Christmas Day. Dallas/Fort Worth once soared to 82°F, but another year, the temperature crashed to 6°F. These big swings mean you can’t always count on mild weather.
Precipitation Trends During December
Rain is more likely than snow for most of Texas in late December. In Dallas/Fort Worth, about 13% of Christmas Days have seen measurable precipitation, usually just a light rain.
Snow doesn’t show up much—it’s only happened a few times.
Central and southeast Texas get scattered showers in December. Houston averages about 4 inches of rain for the month, but Christmas Day itself is usually dry.
Austin’s a bit drier, but you might still get a passing shower.
Sometimes, winter storms roll through. North Texas has seen snow on Christmas Eve that lingered into the morning, leaving a few inches on the ground. Ice and sleet have happened too, but not very often.
Regional Weather Variations
The Panhandle and northern counties have the best shot at wintry weather. Amarillo and Lubbock sometimes catch snow flurries or light dustings, especially when a cold front meets up with some moisture.
Freezing nights are pretty common up there.
Central Texas—think Austin and San Antonio—usually stays milder. One year, you might get a sunny afternoon in the 60s, then the next, it’s almost freezing. The weather can really flip, so checking the forecast before you travel is smart.
South and coastal Texas, including Houston and Corpus Christi, almost never see snow. You’ll get humid air and daytime highs in the upper 50s to mid-60s.
Nights linger in the 40s, and fog sometimes rolls in along the Gulf.
Far West Texas is dry. El Paso gets sunny, cool days and cold nights. Snow doesn’t happen much, but the dry air makes it feel colder after sunset.
Chances of Snow and White Christmas in Texas
Snow around Christmas in Texas is rare and usually sticks to the northern parts of the state. If you want snow, your best bet is the Texas Panhandle.
Frequency of Snow on Christmas
Snow on Christmas in Texas? It’s a long shot. Central and South Texas almost never see measurable snow on December 25.
Even North Texas only gets snow on the holiday once every few decades.
Amarillo, which is one of the snowier cities in Texas, has recorded snow on Christmas about 9% of the time since the late 1800s.
Dallas and Houston have seen it even less, with most years passing by snow-free.
When snow does fall, it’s usually not much. Amarillo’s snowiest Christmas brought 4.6 inches in 1939, but most years with snow see less than 2 inches.
Probability of a White Christmas
A “White Christmas” means there’s at least 1 inch of snow on the ground on December 25. In Texas, that’s pretty rare.
Most of the state—East, Central, and South Texas—has a 0–5% chance in any given year.
North Texas, like Dallas–Fort Worth, usually falls in the 5–10% range, though most years pass without snow.
The Texas Panhandle stands out, with some spots getting a 10–25% chance of meeting the White Christmas mark. Still, that doesn’t mean it happens every decade—it just reflects how often snow has shown up in the long-term records.
Texas Panhandle Snow Trends
If you’re chasing a snowy Christmas in Texas, the Panhandle is your best shot. Amarillo and nearby towns sit higher up and get colder winter air than the rest of the state.
Records show Amarillo had 12 White Christmases since 1892, with the last one in 2012.
The area even saw back-to-back snowy holidays in 2011 and 2012, which is pretty rare for Texas.
Average Christmas temperatures in Amarillo hang around 49°F for the high and 24°F for the low, which is cold enough for snow if there’s moisture.
Still, most years are dry, with only 0.02 inches of average precipitation on the holiday.
So, even though the Panhandle gives you the best odds, it’s no guarantee. Snow is still more of a rare treat than a regular thing.
Historic Christmas Day Weather Records
Christmas weather in Texas has swung from record heat to bitter cold, and sometimes even heavy rain or snow. The extremes really show how unpredictable it can be.
Hottest and Coldest Christmases
You might get summer-like warmth or freezing air on Christmas in Texas. Houston hit 83°F in 2015—its warmest Christmas ever.
College Station reached 85°F in 1955, the hottest Christmas on record for the state. Galveston has also topped out in the mid-70s a few times.
Then there’s the Christmas freeze of 1983. Houston dropped to 11°F, Galveston went down to 14°F, and College Station also hit 11°F.
Another brutally cold holiday came in 1989, when much of Texas stayed below freezing all day.
You might wear shorts one year and heavy coats the next—it all depends on what kind of air mass moves in.
Wettest Christmases on Record
Rain isn’t too common on Christmas in Texas, but some years have been soaked. Houston’s wettest Christmas was in 1916 with 2.09 inches of rain.
College Station saw 2.50 inches in 1904. Galveston’s record is 2.01 inches in 1982.
Rainfall over an inch is rare, but it does happen. Houston also had big years in 1939 (1.81″) and 1982 (1.64″).
If rain does move in on Christmas, it can mess with travel and outdoor plans.
Snowiest Christmases in Texas
Snow on Christmas Day almost never happens in Texas, but there have been some memorable years.
The biggest was in 2004, when a rare Gulf Coast snowstorm dumped 4 inches in Galveston and 6–10 inches south of Houston. That’s about as close as many Texans have come to a true white Christmas.
Dallas–Fort Worth has seen snow around the holiday, too. A 0.4-inch snowfall in 1975 gave the region its first almost-white Christmas in decades.
Earlier events in 1929 and 1989 brought heavier snow just before Christmas.
Most of Texas rarely sees a snow-covered Christmas, but when it happens, people don’t forget.
Regional Christmas Weather Highlights
Christmas weather in Texas really depends on where you are. Some places get cold air and maybe even snow, while others just have mild afternoons and no sign of winter storms.
North and West Texas Conditions
In the Panhandle and the High Plains, you’ll find colder Christmas weather than anywhere else in Texas. Amarillo’s average highs are around 49°F, and lows hit about 24°F.
There’s about a 9% chance of a White Christmas, based on long-term records.
Cold fronts often sweep through late December. Some years, highs only reach the teens, but other years, you might see 60s or even low 70s.
Snow doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it can pile up. Amarillo once got over 4 inches of snow on Christmas Day.
If you’re traveling here, get ready for quick weather changes and the chance of icy roads.
Central and South Texas Weather
Central Texas—cities like Austin and San Antonio—usually has mild Christmas weather. Highs are often in the upper 50s to mid-60s, with lows in the 40s.
Snow is extremely rare. Most years are dry, with only a little bit of rain possible.
South Texas, including Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley, is even warmer. Christmas afternoons can hit the 70s, so outdoor activities are easy.
Nights cool off but usually stay above freezing.
Rain is more likely than snow, but even that’s not common. If you’re headed here, expect it to feel more like a cool fall day than real winter.
Gulf Coast and East Texas Patterns
Along the Gulf Coast—think Houston, Beaumont, and Galveston—Christmas is mild and humid. Highs sit in the 60s to low 70s, and lows in the 50s.
Snow almost never happens, though the 2004 Southeast Texas snow event is a famous exception.
Rain shows up more here than in other parts of Texas. Light showers or cloudy skies drift in from the Gulf, but heavy storms aren’t typical.
East Texas, out toward Tyler and Longview, is slightly cooler but still mild compared to the Panhandle.
You’ll see highs in the 50s to 60s and lows in the 30s to 40s. Wet weather can happen, but snow is very unlikely.
Tips for Planning Around Christmas Weather in Texas
Texas weather can flip from mild afternoons to chilly mornings, with sudden rain during the holiday season. If you’re traveling across different parts of the state, be ready for big changes in temperature and weather.
How to Prepare for Weather Variability
Christmas in Texas can surprise you with all kinds of weather. Along the Gulf Coast, you might run into damp, chilly air, but up in the Panhandle, it sometimes gets downright freezing.
Central spots like Austin or San Antonio usually enjoy mild temps, though the occasional cold front can still roll through.
Pack clothes that let you adapt fast. Honestly, a layering system just makes life easier:
- Base layer: light shirts for afternoons that warm up
- Mid layer: sweaters or fleece for those evenings that cool down
- Outer layer: windbreaker or rain jacket if showers sneak up
I’d check the weather forecast every morning, especially if you’re planning to be outside. Sometimes a cold front will drop the temperature by 10–15°F in just a few hours.
If you’re staying in a rental or an older house, expect cooler temps indoors at night. Heating setups can really vary from place to place.
Toss an umbrella and some light gloves in your car. They don’t take up much space, and you’ll thank yourself if the weather turns.
Travel Considerations and Safety
Driving can get tricky depending on your route. In North Texas and the Panhandle, icy roads pop up when it’s below freezing.
Meanwhile, Southeast Texas sometimes deals with heavy rain or fog, which makes it hard to see.
Give yourself a little buffer for delays. Check local forecasts before heading out, and keep an eye on highway updates if you’re driving far.
If you’re flying, remember that winter storms in other states can still mess with Texas airports. Delays and cancellations happen, so keep snacks, chargers, and meds in your carry-on, just in case.
For road trips, stash a small emergency kit in your car. I’d include a flashlight, a blanket, and maybe some bottled water.
Even if you never touch it, having a few basics packed away just feels better when you’re traveling during unpredictable holiday weather.
Recent and Upcoming Christmas Weather Forecasts
Most Christmases in Texas bring mild air, not snow. Temperatures swing from unseasonably warm to occasionally chilly.
Rain shows up more often than ice or snow, and recent long-range forecasts lean toward warmer, not wintry, weather.
2025 Christmas Weather Outlook
Forecast models suggest above-average temperatures across much of Texas during the holiday week.
Down south, highs could hit the upper 70s or even low 80s, while the middle and north probably see 60s. This isn’t just a Texas thing—it matches a bigger U.S. trend toward warmer Decembers.
Looks like rain chances will stay low, since high pressure usually keeps skies dry. If showers pop up, they’ll probably stick to eastern Texas near the Gulf Coast.
Snow? Unless you’re in the far north or way up in elevation, don’t count on it.
Travelers should expect clear roads and mild afternoons, but don’t forget that evenings can still get chilly. December lows can drop into the 40s, especially in the Hill Country and North Texas.
Key points for 2025:
- Highs: 60s north, 70s–80s south
- Lows: 40s–50s
- Precipitation: Low, mainly east
- Snow: Very unlikely
Recent Trends and Notable Events
Texas tends to have pretty unpredictable Christmas weather, though honestly, most years feel warm. In Houston, for example, the average high on December 25 usually hits about 61°F, with lows dipping near 44°F.
Some years, temperatures shoot up into the 80s. Other times, rare cold snaps have knocked them down into the teens.
If you’re dreaming of snow on Christmas Day, well, that’s almost never going to happen. The big exception was 2004, when a Gulf Coast snowstorm surprised everyone—Galveston got 4 inches, and some towns south of Interstate 10 saw more than 6 inches.
People still talk about that storm. It’s probably one of the strangest holiday weather moments Texas has ever seen.
Rain shows up more often than snow, hitting about once every four years in the big cities. Houston set its wettest Christmas record with just over 2 inches of rain.
Some years, though, the sun comes out and it’s warm enough for short sleeves.
So, if you’re making holiday plans in Texas, you’re way more likely to deal with warmth or rain than any real ice or snow.