How La Niña Will Affect Lubbock Weather This Winter

As I sit here on this warm November day, we’re staring down a weekend expected to stay in the mid-80s — which raises a reasonable question: are we even getting a winter this year?

It’s funny, really. After more than 40 years in Lubbock, I still instinctively picture October/November as “cooler weather season,” even though the actual temperatures say otherwise.

Lubbock ranked #1 for best Halloween weather this year, and that tracks. Fall here is more about wind and sunshine than chilly nights. But when people ask, “Does it snow there?” the honest answer is: usually once or twice. Winter in the Hub City tends to be short, sharp, and over before you can find your gloves.

Lubbock May Be Headed for One of Its Driest Winters Ever

This year, though, we may see even less of it. Thanks to a developing La Niña pattern, the jet stream is expected to stay well to the north, leaving us with a drier winter than normal. Not necessarily warmer… but definitely lacking those one-or-two good snows we usually count on.

That’s bad news for farmers who rely on moisture, especially the slow, soaking melt you get after a decent snow. A dry winter means tougher conditions for the next crop cycle, and there’s nothing any of us can do about it except hope the forecasts are wrong.

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So for now, consider this your friendly heads-up: the odds of building a snowman this year are looking pretty slim.