‘Once in a generation:’ Parts of Houston area report up to 6 inches of snow on Tuesday – Houston Public Media

On January 23, 2025By Littum

Houston snow January 21, 2025 — People gather outside to play in the snow Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Houston.

Parts of the Houston area received up to 6 inches of snow Tuesday during an “exceptionally rare” winter storm for the region, according to National Weather Service.

Houston, as well as surrounding localities such as Liberty and Galveston, received 3-4 inches of snow late Monday and Tuesday morning, according to Bradley Brokamp, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service’s Galveston/Houston office. He said the highest reported snowfall was 6 inches in La Porte, which is southeast of the city.

“These kind of high totals haven’t been seen in a while,” Brokamp said. “It was a once-in-a-generation blizzard for Houston, based on the numbers we’re seeing.”

RELATED: Houston airport operations remain suspended after snowfall

For official record purposes for Houston, Brokamp said the National Weather Service uses snowfall amounts measured at Bush Intercontinental Airport on the north side of the city. The total recorded there Tuesday was 1.2 inches, well below the city record, Brokamp said.

National Weather Service data show 3-inch snowfall totals on winter days in 1940 and 1960. According to Space City WeatherHouston received 20 inches of snow on February 14, 1895.

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“Unfortunately, that’s just the way the snow fell,” Brokamp said of the total measured at Bush Airport. “Officially at least, we got a little cheated.”

Hobby Airport on the south side of town received 3 inches of snow Tuesday, Brokamp noted.

RELATED: Houston is under an extreme cold warning Tuesday night and Wednesday morning

“It’s still an exceptionally rare event to occur,” he said.

Tuesday’s snowfall was most significant on the south side of the Houston region. Areas to the north, such as Conroe, received 1-2 inches of snow, according to Brokamp, who said northwestern localities such as Brenham and College Station received an inch or less.