Did Winters in Crandall Really Used to Be Colder?

CRANDALL — Ask longtime Crandall residents about winters decades ago, and some may recall colder mornings, frozen ponds, icy roads and snow that seemed to linger longer than it does today. But do historical weather records support the belief that North Texas winters used to be colder?

National Weather Service climate records provide evidence that the Dallas–Fort Worth region has experienced measurable warming. However, they also reveal an important distinction: Warmer average temperatures do not mean severe freezes and significant snowstorms have disappeared.

For Crandall residents, the answer depends partly on which decades are being compared and whether the discussion concerns average winter temperatures, freezing nights or memorable snowstorms.

What the temperature records show

The National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office maintains official climate records for Dallas–Fort Worth dating to 1898. Its current climate normals cover 1991 through 2020, providing a 30-year benchmark for comparing historical weather.

The region’s annual average temperature increased from 66.3 degrees during the 1981–2010 reference period to 66.6 degrees during 1991–2020.

The number of freezing days also changed.

These figures indicate a modest warming between the two overlapping 30-year periods, accompanied by fewer freezes.

Because the periods share 20 years, however, they do not establish precisely how much colder Crandall’s winters were in the 1950s, 1960s or 1970s.

 

How cold is a typical North Texas winter?

The National Weather Service’s 1991–2020 averages provide a useful picture of the region’s normal winter conditions.

January is typically the coldest month, although individual cold fronts can send temperatures far below these averages.

These figures also explain why North Texas winters can feel unpredictable. Relatively mild afternoons may be followed by freezing temperatures, sometimes within a short period.

 

What about the snowstorms people remember?

Snowfall records complicate the idea that every earlier winter was snowier.

The Dallas–Fort Worth climate archive documents a major snowfall on February 11–12, 2010, when 12.5 inches accumulated during a 24-hour period.

That relatively recent storm demonstrates that substantial snowfall remains possible even as average temperatures increase.

The National Weather Service describes measurable snowfall as uncommon in many North Texas winters, with some seasons producing little or none.

Snowfall also varies considerably between communities. A storm that produces several inches at the official reporting station may leave different amounts in Crandall.

 

Where are the measurements taken?

An important limitation is that the historical figures are not measurements taken in downtown Crandall.

The principal reporting station is Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, approximately 45 miles northwest of Crandall in straight-line distance. That distance is approximate, not a verified station-to-city survey measurement.

The official climate record also combines observations from multiple locations. Before the airport became the reporting location in 1974, measurements were collected at sites including downtown Fort Worth, Meacham Field and Greater Southwest International Airport.

Those changes matter when comparing weather across more than a century. Local terrain, urban development and differences in station location can influence measurements.

 

So were Crandall winters colder?

The evidence supports a qualified answer.

Regional records show warmer recent climate normals and fewer freezing days compared with the preceding reference period. That lends support to memories of more frequent cold weather.

But the available comparisons do not establish that every winter decades ago was colder or snowier than winters today. Nor do they provide a complete Crandall-specific temperature and snowfall history.

For residents remembering childhood snowfalls, the memories may be entirely accurate. What remains uncertain is whether those memorable events represented a consistently colder local climate.

The conclusion: North Texas has experienced measurable warming in its climate averages, but severe winter weather remains part of the region’s history—and its future.

Source: National Weather Service Fort Worth, Dallas–Fort Worth climate normals, historical station records and regional climate narrative.