Ingenious Seminole County Father Brings Snowfall to His Community

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Snow is a rare sight in Central Florida, but the area recently experienced a unique winter spectacle thanks to an unusual cold snap. Overnight temperatures dipped to record lows from Saturday into Sunday, bringing an unexpected snowy scene to one neighborhood in Seminole County.

Instead of natural snowfall, children in the neighborhood enjoyed playing in heaps of snow created by a snow machine, courtesy of local resident Austin Beeghly.

“When the temperature drops significantly, like it did last night, we’re able to make snow,” explained Beeghly. “We have a snow machine that combines a bit of science, and once it’s cold enough, we can switch it on and start creating snow.”

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Beeghly noted that the freezing conditions provided an ideal opportunity to generate snow quickly, despite facing time constraints and challenging wind conditions.

“This was only three hours of snow-making that we got in,” he said. “It was so cold that we were able to pump out a lot more. (…) The kids get to play and have fun and throw some snowballs, and we do it for our children, of course, but also the neighborhood.”

The snow machine works by combining pressurized air, water and cold temperatures — a process Beeghly said mimics how snow is made at ski resorts.

“That comes in and basically breaks apart particles in a process called nucleation,” he said. “It has to be cold enough that it falls down as snow.”

For neighbors like Chris Halpern, the sight brought back memories. He says the last time the neighborhood saw snow like this was nearly 15 years ago.

“We did do it here 15 years ago with our two oldest,” Halpern said. “Now at 20.”

When asked if the excitement had changed over the years, Halpern didn’t hesitate.

“No — exactly the same joy,” he said.

As temperatures rise again across Central Florida, the snow won’t last — but for the families who experienced it, the moment is one they won’t soon forget.

[SEE: Snow flurries reported in Daytona Beach]