Winter storm brings record-breaking snow to parts of Florida

MIAMI – A major and historic winter storm slammed the Florida Panhandle on Tuesday with widespread record-breaking snowfall.

The snow moved out of Louisiana where New Orleans broke their snowfall record of all time by several inches.  Some parishes reported double-digit snowfall totals. A rare winter storm warning continues for north Florida through tomorrow where an additional 2-4 inches are possible.

Along with the snow, a mix of sleet and freezing rain was expected in the Jacksonville metro area, where they will have to watch out for ice accumulations of up to a tenth of an inch in some spots.

The threat of winter weather will come to an end across the state of Florida by late Wednesday with a gradual warm-up.

Along with the snow, a mix of sleet and freezing rain was expected in the Jacksonville metro area, where they will have to watch out for ice accumulations of up to a tenth of an inch in some spots.

The threat of winter weather will come to an end across the state of Florida by mid-morning Wednesday.

How much snow will Florida get?

NEXT Weather Chief Meteorologist Ivan Cabrera said some areas in the Panhandle recorded over half a foot of snow shattering long-standing snow records. “This storm is unprecedented for its breadth and scope; we just don’t have anything we can compare it to.  This will go down in history as the Gulf Blizzard of 2025.

DeSantis’ Florida emergency declaration

On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency for the northern part of the state, saying “all modes of hazardous winter weather will be likely, including snow, sleet, and freezing rain.”

Earlier Monday, House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton canceled planned legislative committee meetings for the week because of the expected weather conditions in Tallahassee.

Snow in Miami

While South Florida will be too far south to experience any snow from this system, we have seen snow before. Nearly five decades ago we had our first and only snowfall on record in South Florida, on Jan. 19th, 1977.

The snow fell as far south as Homestead and flakes even fell on the sandy shores of Miami Beach.

The next day The Miami Herald’s read: “The Day It Snowed in Miami.”

South Florida residents, young and old, couldn’t believe their eyes and still remember where they were the day it snowed.

However, it was not all fun and silly winter jokes. The cold front that brought the snow also brought cold temperatures that caused severe damage to Florida’s crops.

The state’s citrus and vegetable industries were nearly wiped out and some 150,000 migrant workers lost their jobs in the state – including 80,000 in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. Then-Gov. Reubin Askew declared a state of emergency.

In January 2010 there was a very serious cold snap that hit South Florida and there were reports of snow flurries in Miami-Dade and Broward when temperatures reached 35 degrees. The National Weather Service announced these reports, but they were not officially confirmed.

Climate Change Connection

While it may seem counterintuitive, these extreme weather events could occur more often as the planet warms.

The pressure differences between cold arctic air and warm air to the south generate a powerful ring of winds called the polar Jetstream.  This is our natural protection against equatorward arctic air invasions.

When you warm the Arctic, those pressure differences aren’t as great. This results in a slower and wavier jet allowing Arctic air to drop as far south as Florida. This alone doesn’t produce snow, but in this perfect scenario, moisture overrunning that frigid air turned an otherwise rainy day into a historic snow event.