Over the next few days, residents of the Texas Panhandle may anticipate a temperature rollercoaster, with the possibility of snow on Tuesday serving as a reminder of winter’s hold. With sunny skies and highs of 60°F, Friday is expected to deliver exceptionally warm temperatures, according to the Amarillo National Weather Service.
However, when colder weather is brought in by strong north winds, temperatures will drop during the weekend. The high on Sunday will barely make it to 40°F, and nightly lows will fall into the teens. With a high of only 35°F predicted on Tuesday, the weather will continue to cool into the first part of next week.
A significant shift in temperature is expected to occur throughout Texas, including San Antonio. Late Monday, Dec. 30, a cold front will pass over the region. It is expected to arrive on Tuesday with gusty winds of up to thirty miles per hour. Forecasters believe it will be difficult for temperatures to surpass 70 degrees.
What is the average annual snowfall in Texas?
In the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles, snowfall varies widely and is strongly influenced by elevation. Because of the availability of cooler air, the higher terrain of the Llano Estacado west of the Caprock Escarpment typically receives more snowfall than locations farther east. However, the yearly snowfall is also influenced by other factors, such as the availability of moisture.
Further east, where there is often more moisture, high snowfall totals are possible if there is also a enough supply of cold air. Every year, Amarillo receives 17.9 inches of snow on average. A map showing the average annual snowfall from 1971 to 2000 can be found below. The majority of the observations were made by cooperative weather volunteers.
