What should you know about Amarillo's weather?
- NWS office
- Amarillo (AMA)
- Climate
- Cold semi-arid
- Time zone
- CST/CDT
- Elevation
- 3,670 ft
- Coordinates
- 35.22° N, 101.83° W
- Nearest radar
- KAMA · Amarillo NEXRAD · 7 mi
- County
- Potter County, TX
- Yearly rain
- 19.7 in
- Warmest month
- July · 79.6°F average
- Coldest month
- January · 38.6°F average
- Severe storm peak
- Apr to Jun
How much rain does Amarillo get each month?
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 52.2 | 56.1 | 64.8 | 72.4 | 80.9 | 89.7 | 92.9 | 91.0 | 84.0 | 73.0 | 61.3 | 51.9 |
| Low °F | 24.9 | 27.5 | 34.8 | 42.5 | 52.6 | 62.4 | 66.4 | 65.3 | 57.8 | 45.4 | 33.5 | 25.7 |
| Rain (in) | 0.71 | 0.53 | 1.27 | 1.45 | 2.27 | 2.85 | 2.82 | 2.86 | 1.69 | 1.75 | 0.75 | 0.71 |
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Rain (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52.2 | 24.9 | 0.71 |
| Feb | 56.1 | 27.5 | 0.53 |
| Mar | 64.8 | 34.8 | 1.27 |
| Apr | 72.4 | 42.5 | 1.45 |
| May | 80.9 | 52.6 | 2.27 |
| Jun | 89.7 | 62.4 | 2.85 |
| Jul | 92.9 | 66.4 | 2.82 |
| Aug | 91.0 | 65.3 | 2.86 |
| Sep | 84.0 | 57.8 | 1.69 |
| Oct | 73.0 | 45.4 | 1.75 |
| Nov | 61.3 | 33.5 | 0.75 |
| Dec | 51.9 | 25.7 | 0.71 |
AMARILLO, TX US · 7 mi away · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020
What was the costliest tornado to hit Amarillo?
NWS Amarillo lists the F4 tornado of May 15, 1949 as the costliest tornado to hit the city. It moved along the south side of Amarillo and then on to the airport. The storm damaged or destroyed 200 homes, killed 7 people, injured 82 and caused $5 million in damage. A wind of 84 mph was clocked at the weather office at English Field, today's Amarillo International Airport.
What did 2011 look like on the Amarillo weather radar?
It showed very little rain. With only 7.01 inches of precipitation, 2011 was Amarillo's driest year on record, and January, March, April and May combined for just 0.25 inches. All 4 tornadoes reported in the Panhandles that year were weak, while the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles typically see about 21 a year. Heat was the other big story, with an all-time record high of 111°F on June 26 and a record 50 days of 100 degrees or more.
How much snow does Amarillo get?
Amarillo averages 17.2 inches of snow a year under 1991 to 2020 normals. Single storms can bring that much at once, as the February 2 to 5, 1964 blizzard did with 17.5 inches of snow in Amarillo. During the March 22 to 25, 1957 blizzard, the Texas Panhandle reported 30 ft drifts and the storm caused 11 Panhandle deaths. The coldest temperature on record in Amarillo is -16°F, set on February 12, 1899.
What was the Dust Bowl like in Amarillo?
NWS Amarillo puts the Dust Bowl of 1930 to 1939 first on its list of the top 10 Panhandle weather events of the 20th century. The 1930s remain the driest decade on record in Amarillo, and 5 of the city's 10 warmest years occurred in that decade. Dust drifted to the rooftops of homes and buried farm equipment, and surface visibility often dropped to zero at the height of the dust storms.
Which big wildfires have burned in the Texas Panhandle?
Two examples are the East Amarillo Complex in March 2006 and the Smokehouse Creek fire in 2024. In 2006, two fires that started when strong winds knocked down power lines merged into the East Amarillo Complex, which burned parts of Hutchinson, Gray, Roberts and Hemphill counties. By the time it was put out, nearly 1,000,000 acres had burned and 12 people had died, including 1 firefighter. NOAA calls the Smokehouse Creek fire, which broke out on February 26, 2024, the largest wildfire in Texas state history.
When should you check the Amarillo radar?
Severe storm peak
April to JuneAbout 67% of the county's 1996 to 2025 severe reports fall from April to June. Drivers on I-40 and I-27 check the loop before heading out on stormy afternoons.
Freeze season
October 27 to April 13These are Amarillo's median first fall and last spring 32°F freeze dates under 1991 to 2020 normals. Frost does not show on radar, so home gardeners around the Amarillo Botanical Gardens watch the hourly low instead.
What else do people ask about the Amarillo radar?
Which NWS office and radar cover Amarillo?
NWS Amarillo (AMA) issues forecasts and warnings for Amarillo. The nearest NEXRAD radar is KAMA, about 7 miles from the city center.
How often does the radar on this page update?
The radar loop on this page updates every 5 minutes.
Is this page an official warning service?
No. It shows radar and forecasts only. For warnings, follow NWS Amarillo and local emergency alerts.
Quick facts
- Radar: KAMA (Amarillo NEXRAD), a new frame every 5 minutes
- Forecasts and warnings: NWS Amarillo (AMA)
- Severe storms peak from April to June (NOAA Storm Events, 1996 to 2025)
- Local time: CST/CDT
- Radar: KAMA, a new frame every 5 minutes
- Warnings: NWS Amarillo (AMA)
- Severe storms: April to June
- Local time: CST/CDT
Where does this data come from?
- NOAA NEXRAD radar via Iowa Environmental Mesonet
- National Weather Service, Amarillo office
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020: AMARILLO, TX US
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996 to 2025
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service
- GOES-East satellite imagery
- Open-Meteo forecast API
- OpenStreetMap contributors
- NWS Amarillo: Top 10 weather events of the 20th century in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles
- NWS Amarillo: 2011 weather review
- NWS Amarillo: Records and normals for Amarillo
- NWS Amarillo: 2006 weather review
- NOAA NESDIS: Fires rage across the Texas Panhandle
- NOAA NCEI: 1991 to 2020 annual normals, Amarillo (USW00023047)