Snow in Florida? Yeah, it happens. We sometimes get the dusting, we sometimes get the icing, but we never really get the good stuff, the “accumulation.” Well Tuesday, January 21st will go down as the snowiest day in Florida recorded history, and I was lucky (or unlucky) enough to be smack dab in 9 – 10 inches of snow.
“Snowmageddon” 2014 in Pensacola – Thomas Derbes
The week before the snow, I mentioned to fellow co-workers and oyster farmers that “snow is on the way,” and I kind of meant that jokingly. We joked “snow in Florida? That’s why we live here, to avoid that stuff.” Like I mentioned earlier, snow in Florida has happened. In January of 2014, Pensacola experienced a dusting/icing event that shut the town down for a day, and that is fully what I was expecting to happen. Fast-forward to 10:15 am January 21st, 2025. The snow had arrived, but I was still skeptical of the snow. I thought “maybe an inch or two, but there is no way we hit 3 inches.”
Dog’s Love The Snow – Thomas Derbes
By 3:00 pm, my ruler measured 6 inches of the most beautiful, powdery snow I have seen other than Colorado. By 7:30, the snow had calmed and I was able to measure 9 inches in the front yard. The whole neighborhood was blanketed in snow, and the dogs were both confused and excited to enjoy this white, powdery cold stuff. Everyone’s minds were blown, and the area was shut down for a few days to let the snow and eventual ice melt.
9 Inches of Florida Snow – Thomas Derbes
This rare winter storm was caused by a meeting of two systems. A low was forming in the Gulf of Mexico and was pulled up by the very strong Polar Vortex descending from the North. This “perfect storm” dumped record snowfall all along the Gulf Coast, from Texas to Apalachicola. NOAA recently released a beautiful satellite image of the snowfall.
Southern Snow Satellite – NOAA
One of the coolest things about the snow was the “snow glow” that happened Tuesday night. I had never witness this phenomenon before, and it was almost daylight outside. “Snow glow” happens when light reflects off individual ice crystals in freshly fallen snow, creating a bright, sparkling effect. Each crystal acts like a tiny mirror, bouncing light upwards. This phenomenon becomes even more pronounced under sunlight or artificial lights, such as street lamps, making the snow appear to glow.
Backyard Snow and Snow Glow! Photo Taken With No Flash at 9:00 pm – Thomas Derbes
I hope you were able to enjoy a rare Florida snow day! Many people ask “can this happen again?” Even though I am not a meteorologist, it is typically a once-in-a-lifetime event. However, anything is possible!
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