Texas isn’t known for having particularly rough winters, with 2021 being the most recent (glaring) exception. Another exception occurred in February 1899, which was, quite possibly, the coldest winter in Texas history. Around Valentine’s Day of that year, the town of Tulia recorded a temperature of -30 degrees Fahrenheit: the lowest temperature the state had (and still has) yet to see.
We all remember the fateful winter storm of 2021, but an even more frigid winter rocked Texas over a century earlier.
Isaac Murray / Moment via Getty Images The Great Blizzard of 1899 affected much of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, barreling down from the Arctic just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Lasting just four days, the storm is still among the most infamous blizzards in our nation’s history.
Wikimedia Commons/U.S. Weather Bureau February 1899 was the second-coldest February on record in the country, bested only by February 1936. The month’s average temperature was a chilling 25 degrees Fahrenheit - eight degrees colder than the February average for the period of 1895-2017.
Texas, in particular, saw its lowest temperatures ever during the Great Blizzard of 1899.
Kathy Van Torne / Moment via Getty Images The town of Tulia, located in the far southern portion of the Panhandle, dropped to 23 degrees below zero!
Unofficial reports of even colder temperatures were made; however, these claims have never been officially verified.
Jay Sanchez / 500px via Getty Images Many other cities, including Amarillo, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Fort Worth, Galveston, and Waco, saw record-low temperatures during February 1899.
There were even reports of a thin layer of ice coating Galveston Bay!
Kenneth Ballou / EyeEm via Getty Images Can you imagine that?!
It wasn’t until 1933 when Texas’ all-time low temperature of 23 degrees below zero was matched in the town of Seminole.
Stephan Pietzko / EyeEm via Getty Images Who knows when, if ever, our state will see such frigid weather again…
As far as the overall impact of the blizzard, it was disastrous in every way: physically, economically, and otherwise.
Mint Images / Mint Images RF via Getty Images It’s estimated that around 100 people died as a direct result of the storm, and industries all over the U.S. were affected.
Can you believe the temperature dipped so low in Texas in February 1899? Tell us your thoughts in the comments! Don’t forget to check out our previous article to see the predictions for this year’s winter.
Isaac Murray / Moment via Getty Images
The Great Blizzard of 1899 affected much of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, barreling down from the Arctic just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Wikimedia Commons/U.S. Weather Bureau
February 1899 was the second-coldest February on record in the country, bested only by February 1936. The month’s average temperature was a chilling 25 degrees Fahrenheit - eight degrees colder than the February average for the period of 1895-2017.
Kathy Van Torne / Moment via Getty Images
The town of Tulia, located in the far southern portion of the Panhandle, dropped to 23 degrees below zero!
Jay Sanchez / 500px via Getty Images
Many other cities, including Amarillo, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Fort Worth, Galveston, and Waco, saw record-low temperatures during February 1899.
Kenneth Ballou / EyeEm via Getty Images
Can you imagine that?!
Stephan Pietzko / EyeEm via Getty Images
Who knows when, if ever, our state will see such frigid weather again…
Mint Images / Mint Images RF via Getty Images
It’s estimated that around 100 people died as a direct result of the storm, and industries all over the U.S. were affected.
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