This month marks the 130th anniversary of the Great Gulf Coast Snowstorm that hit Texas and Louisiana in February 1895. The weather event produced the greatest amount of snowfall over Southeast Texas ever recorded since the area was settled. 

 In what turned out to be a snowstorm of epic proportions, snow began to fall about one o’clock in the afternoon on Valentine's Day and continued to fall for the rest of the day.

 Area snowfall totals across Southeast Texas and Louisiana ranged from four inches to nearly 30 inches of snow. Galveston Island received a record 15.4 inches of snow that reportedly stayed on the ground for ten days. The low temperature in Galveston was recorded at 8 degrees Fahrenheit. 

 Forty-five miles to the north, Houston received even more snow - a staggering 22 inches. Further east in Beaumont, they received 28 inches of snow.

 The snowstorm not only disrupted daily life but also had a significant economic impact, halting transportation and causing businesses to close temporarily. To make transportation easier, some enterprising locals attached temporary runners on their carriages and wagons and used them as makeshift sleighs. 

 Galveston Island was inaccessible by train for several days as the temperature hovered around 24 degrees Fahrenheit. Many ships were frozen in their docks, and bales of cotton awaiting loading were covered in snow. 

 The local newspaper reported that shoe stores sold out of "gum boots" (rubber boots) and overshoes, and that "even the most sedate citizens took part in citywide snowball fights." 

 Merchants, policemen, bankers, carriage drivers, doctors, and other adults took the opportunity to launch snowballs at each other, to the delight of onlookers. 

 As we remember the epic snowstorm of 1895, Galveston once again experienced a touch of winter magic in January 2025, with a snowfall of just over three inches. 

 While this recent snowfall pales in comparison to the historic blizzard on Valentine’s Day in 1895, it serves as a poignant reminder of the unexpected beauty and challenges that winter can bring to our coastal island. Galveston continues to thrive and adapt, embracing its unique climate and rich history.