DALLAS, Texas – NOAA’s Winter 2025–2026 outlook, released Thursday, Oct. 16, shows a split winter shaping up for Texas — a colder, wetter pattern across the north and a milder, drier setup toward the Gulf Coast. The Climate Prediction Center’s guidance highlights above-normal precipitation for the Red River Valley and Panhandle, with near- to below-normal rainfall and warmer-than-average temperatures in southern Texas.
According to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth, “This winter favors frequent cold fronts and several ice or snow events across northern Texas, particularly from January through mid-February.” Dallas–Fort Worth, Wichita Falls, and Amarillo could see multiple accumulating snows and brief Arctic outbreaks, while Austin, Houston, and Brownsville stay mostly mild with scattered rain.
Forecasters warn that freezing rain could accompany several systems along the I-35 and I-20 corridors, creating hazardous travel and isolated power outages. TxDOT advises motorists to prepare for intermittent road closures during ice storms, especially north of Waco.
The coldest stretch appears likely in late January, with lows dropping into the teens across the Panhandle and single digits in the High Plains. NOAA adds that cooler-than-average air could persist into March, keeping early planting delayed in northern counties.
For Texas, Winter 2026 looks divided — classic Arctic cold and snow chances for the north, but warm, breezy conditions along the Gulf. Preparation will be key wherever the next front decides to stall.
