Houston: Will We Need Our Swim Fins or Snow Boots This Winter?
Ah, Houston weather. A glorious box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get. Burning sunshine? Sure! Hurricanes that make your houseguests reconsider their life choices? Absolutely! But what about the elusive, the mythical, the downright legendary Houston snowfall? Buckle up, because we're about to dive into the fascinating (and slightly terrifying) world of Houston winter precipitation.
The History of Houston's "Winter Wonderland" (Air Quotes Included)
Let's be honest, Houston isn't exactly known for its epic blizzards. We're more likely to see alligators wearing ice skates than a citywide snowball fight. But hey, stranger things have happened! In fact, the fine folks at Houston Chronicle tell us the city has seen a measly 0.1 inches of snow or more in only 12 years since 1950. Eight of those years saw more than an inch, and guess what? Six happened before the year 2000. So, snow in Houston is about as common as a politician keeping a campaign promise.
Now, there was that whole February 2021 freeze business. An inch of snow fell, causing a city-wide meltdown (and not just because of the romantic possibilities the snow might have brought). But that was a once-in-a-blue-moon event, folks.
El Niño to the Rescue (Maybe)?
We all know El Niño likes to mess with the weather patterns. And some folks say a strong El Niño could bring cooler and wetter weather to Houston, which might sound like a recipe for snow, right? Well, hold your horses (or should we say, hold your hot cocoa?). Houston's southern charm usually keeps it out of the snow zone.
So, What Are the Actual Chances of Snow This Year?
Listen, predicting Houston weather is like trying to predict your teenage child's mood swings. It's a crapshoot. But based on history and what we know about El Niño, well, let's just say you're probably better off stocking up on sunscreen than shovels.
Final Verdict: Embrace the Flip-Flops, Baby!
Look, Houston. We love a good surprise as much as the next city, but when it comes to snow, we're probably safe to stick with the flip-flops. But hey, if that white stuff does start falling, you heard it here first: we're calling dibs on building the world's tiniest snowman.
