Remembering Austin's heaviest snowstorm

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Snow in Central Texas is nothing short of rare. The city of Austin averages 0.2" of snowfall per year with the snowiest month being February.

Believe it or not, the heaviest snowstorm Austin ever recorded wasn't during the winter months. During Nov. 22 - 23 in 1937, the city of Austin picked up almost a foot of heavy wet snow, which to this day, holds the record for total snow accumulation in Austin for a single storm event.

There are minimal records about this snowstorm but the National Weather Service (NWS) provided a brief account of how this storm impacted the Lone Star State. When recalling historical snowstorm events in Texas, NWS said "between 4-6 inches fell in bands over a large area in North Central Texas, including the Waco and Temple/Killeen areas."

Reports of snowfall began in Northern Texas on Nov. 22, with Central Texas seeing impacts beginning the next day on Nov. 22 into Nov. 23. Most likely slow-moving mesoscale bands of heavy snowfall fell overnight on the 23rd when temperatures dipped below 32°, which is why 11" of powder was recorded.

When looking back at meteorological data, we found the high temperature on Nov. 23, 1937, in the Austin area was 40° with overnight lows dropping below freezing to 31°.

New Braunfels' overnight low temperature on Nov. 23 barely reached freezing, so most likely south of Comal County was a rain event or a mix of winter precipitation.