BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

Snow Magical

Winter wonderland, Houston style

By Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, Staff writer | February 25, 2025

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WALK IN THE SNOW Photographer and Bellaire resident Larry Garmezy (Archway Gallery) shared this beautiful photo, A Walk in the Snow, taken looking west down Pine St. from Alder St. He woke up bright and early to capture the fresh powder. He said, “What was really cool was that Houston, in four days, experienced fall, winter, early spring (mud season), and late spring. Growing up in Minneapolis, this took seven months.” (Photo: Larry Garmezy)

Houston woke up on Tues., Jan. 21, to discover a fresh blanket of snow covering our city. And the snow was still falling. It was surreal. Prior to Winter Storm Enzo’s arrival, there was an air of nervous anticipation around the city. We remembered all too well the crises that resulted from the freeze in Feb. 2021. We all prepared to hunker down. Just in case.

But thankfully, the weather events were different, and what resulted this time was pure joy.

For many, this marked the first time experiencing this kind of true, stick-to-the-ground snowfall right outside our doors. For some, this marked the first time experiencing snow, ever.

Houstonians eagerly grabbed snow gear (some with borrowed or just-bought clothing items) and headed out the door. Families formed snowballs and had snowball fights with neighbors; built snowmen; went sledding (some creating makeshift sleds from laundry baskets or pool floats); brought out skis and snowboards and found nearby hills; made snow angels; tasted snowflakes; sipped hot chocolate; and stared out the window in wonder. It was magical.

Snowfall totaled more than six inches in some areas, though most of Houston saw two to four inches. It marked the highest annual snowfall Houston had seen since 1973.

Upon returning to reality, heading back to our workplaces and schools, we all excitedly shared our snow-day experiences with one another. We shook our heads in disbelief. Did that really happen?

It did, and it’s something we will remember forever.

The Buzz gathered snow-day photos and videos on our website. Check them out here.

Editor’s note: See Cindy Gabriel’s Cindy and Snow: A short story in this issue for more on the magic of snow days.