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Winter in Harris County, Texas
16 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Harris County, Texas, has 16 winter events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 7 different years.
March is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 14 events against 2 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.2% of the 8,005 winter events recorded in Texas; its 0.9 per 100 square miles compares with 3.1 statewide.
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with Texas
| Measure | Harris County | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 16 | 8,005 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 0.9 | 3.1 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 0.0 | 2.7 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 195 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | March | January | January |
By year
Seasonality
5Feb
0Mar
8Apr
0May
0Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
0Nov
0Dec
3
Recorded events
All 16 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jan 2018 | Sleet | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Dec 2017 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2014 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jan 2014 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Jan 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Dec 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2007 | Ice Storm | — | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Dec 2004 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jan 1997 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Harris County had?
16 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded winter event in Harris County?
16 Jan 2018 (Sleet). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Harris County?
The ice storm of 16 Jan 2007, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $5K.
How does Harris County compare with Texas for winter?
0.9 events per 100 square miles against 3.1 statewide; the county holds 16 of the state's 8,005 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Winter hub and the county page.