When it snows in Florida

Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.

The first snowfall recorded in the State of Florida was on December 19, 1765. According to that initial report, a "white frost" fell in the northern part of East Florida – which was at that time a part of the British colony. It was reported that the Floridian snowfall lasted briefly, and offered no detriment to the agricultural interests of the region.

As one of the most southern states of America, a snowfall in Florida – especially one that leaves small piles of snow on the ground – is quite unexpected. Florida is known for its shimmering white beaches and its humid subtropical climate, not flurries of snow.

But since that first reported snowfall in 1765 (and, undoubtably there were snowfalls prior to the arrival of British settlers), Florida has experienced everything from small hardly-visible snow flurries to storms that bring about a dense layer of snow on the ground.

Before the 1900s, there are 21 recorded cases of snowfall in Florida, of those events, most of them were freezing rains, sleets, hail or small flurries. But of course, there have been exceptions.

On February 12-13, 1899, snow fell so thick in the region of Lake Butler (in Union County) that it took several days for the snow to melt – this snowfall coincided with the rest of the American South experiencing what would be later called the Great Blizzard of 1899.

The next major snow event in Florida wouldn't take place until the 20th century (which had 21 reported snowfalls). On February 2-3, 1951, snow fell so heavily that it covered two inches in the area of St. Augustine. Three years later, on March 6, 1954, one of the heaviest recorded accumulation of snow would fall in Santa Rosa County, as four inches of snow covered the ground within a 24-hour period.
In March of 1955, the North Florida Panhandle, including Jefferson and Madison Counties, were struck by the arrival of snowflakes. Photos taken of residents in the two counties show heavy snowfall covering the ground.

On February 13, 1958, Jefferson, Madison and Leon Counties experienced more thick snow. An overnight rain caused the weather to turn cold and the climate for snow improved. Tallahassee later reported over two inches of snow falling in the region, with photos taken during the snowfall showing residents of Tallahassee playing in the unexpected snow. Madison County, too, was drenched with a coating of the fluffy snow of 1958.

Snow has continued to make an appearance in the Florida Panhandle, with events such as the 1993 Storm of the Century (bringing four inches to North Florida) and several other snowfalls in 2004, 2010, 2017 and January 2018.

When snow fell in 2018, it covered several counties, including Jefferson, Madison and Leon, and the weather turned cold enough that many school districts in North Florida canceled classes for the following day. The 2018 snow was also the first time that Tallahassee had received measurable snowfall since 1989, although the city sees flurries every few years. In Jefferson County, many locals will recall the thick layer of snow that left the roads of the county dusted white and the homes of residents blanketed in a ice and snow.

During the 2018 snowfall, the Florida Highway Patrol also closed I-10 from Tallahassee to Madison County for most of the morning of January 3, as the road had accumulated a dangerous amount of ice.

Snow may not be an regular winter event for Florida, but in the 255 years since the first recorded Floridian snow in 1765, snow has made over 60 appearances in the state. Most of the time, the snowfall is little more than light flurries that melt in the air, but sometimes – as history has proven – snow falls and stays on the ground in Florida.