Amarillo - Is it safe? How's the climate?

[Arkay66]

Amarillo has four distinct seasons. Winters are colder than the rest of the state, and a heckuva lot warmer than anywhere north of Amarillo. Today was a normal winter day, high of around 50 and low tonight 22. This weekend will be in the 70s. Snow is a rarity and lasts only a few days at most. Winter Texans (snowbirds) would laugh at people who think Amarillo is cold. I do fine with flannel shirts and a lined windbreaker most days.

The strongest winds blow March through May, which is also the highest thunderstorm season. Otherwise, the winds are not near as annoying as say, Chicago or Dodge City, Kansas. Wind warnings do happen, but not regularly.

As for flat: I-40 travels the line between the breaks, north of I-40, where the predominately ranch land is all broken up toward the Canadian River, and south, where the land is reasonably flat (but not really) and a combination of farm and ranch land.

Amarillo has seen a crime increase, but it's still, per capita, a very safe city. The small towns in the area are very safe.

Amarillo is also, per capita, the biggest recipient of legal refugees in the state. The number of languages spoken here is mind-boggling for a city this size.

The key is the natives here are flat out friendly and welcoming.

And I speak as one who grew up near, but not in, Amarillo, and have been living here since August 2016. Have been stationed all over the world, and no one does friendly like Amarillo and the Panhandle region.

[mrsltd]

Originally Posted by stillkit

Amarillo is as safe as any other town of similar size. It's got it's problem areas, just like any place else.

As for the weather? LOL Hot and dusty in the summertime, prone to violent thunderstorms year 'round and, in the winter, there isn't a thing between you and North Pole except a barbed wire fence....and it blew down. I personally think the Panhandle of Texas has the most disagreeable weather in the country.

Plus, there's this: The monotony of the terrain, and endless bad weather, give Amarillo an unusually high suicide rate. That's also true of the Oklahoma Panhandle, southwest Kansas and southeast Colorado. In short, the old Dust Bowl area. There's just something about the bleakness of it all which drives people over the edge.

I'm inclined to think that the area looks "boring" (if true) because of what the earlier non-native settlers did: plowed up the short grass, killed off most of the antelope and bison, and attempted to farm before realizing that the climate is mostly suited for ranching. My mom and her husband complained about going through north Texas as well on their trips. It would be great if people could accept an area for what it is regardless of whether or not it "reaches out and grabs you".

[C24L]

Originally Posted by mrsltd

I'm inclined to think that the area looks "boring" (if true) because of what the earlier non-native settlers did: plowed up the short grass, killed off most of the antelope and bison, and attempted to farm before realizing that the climate is mostly suited for ranching. My mom and her husband complained about going through north Texas as well on their trips. It would be great if people could accept an area for what it is regardless of whether or not it "reaches out and grabs you".

Amarillo and the Panhandle are not North Texas.

[Arkay66]

Exactly, C24L. I grew up calling the area The Panhandle, although I understand a lot of people count the Panhandle as part of West Texas nowadays. North Texas is Dallas, etc.

[C24L]

Originally Posted by Arkay66

Exactly, C24L. I grew up calling the area The Panhandle, although I understand a lot of people count the Panhandle as part of West Texas nowadays. North Texas is Dallas, etc.

Thanks Arkay.I am not for sure if the Panhandle is part of West Texas or not.Your right that North Texas is DFW.