This Unlikely Town Set Texas’ All-Time 24-Hour Snowfall Record

It's not a big news story when it snows in Texas. Much of the Panhandle averages about a foot and a half of snow every year.

Cities farther to the south, like Abilene, Dallas, Waco, and Tyler usually get at least one wintry weather event every season. Most times, it's a few inches of snow - more than enough for Texas drivers to display their inexperience on the roadways.

The Texas Record for the All-Time 24-Hour Snowfall

26 inches of snow in 24 hours, that's the Texas record for the all-time 24-hour snowfall. It probably wouldn't surprise you if some place like Amarillo laid claim to that.

Nope...try a town located 400 miles southeast of Amarillo. The north-central Texas town of Hillsboro holds the record for the one-day Texas snowfall of 26 inches.

The Christmas Storm of 1929

On December 17, 1929, a strong cold front quickly dropped temperatures 40 degrees across much of the northern half of Texas. A few days later, a storm system moved in behind the front and dropped heavy snow squalls across the Texas Hill Country through the Waco area and eventually into northeast Texas.

By the end of December 21, numerous snowfall totals of over a foot were being reported. With 13 inches of snow, Waco set a one-day record that still stands today. Clifton, Texas recorded 24 inches, and nearby Hillsboro set the all-time mark of 26 inches.

Dallas received only a dusting of snow from the same system. Temperatures quickly rebounded to the 70s by Christmas Day, so much of the record snowfall had melted. But, there was still enough on the ground for it to be considered a White Christmas.