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The rare weather event came to the Sunshine State as much of the U.S. is dealing with severe winter weather.
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Yes, you read that right — it’s snowing in Florida and sticking to the ground!
Snow was reported early Tuesday afternoon in Pensacola along the Florida Panhandle. The Florida Highway Patrol posted a photo of snow blanketing the ground on social media just after noon with the caption: “Happening NOW in Pensacola!”
The photo showcases the Welcome to Florida sign along the Florida/Alabama state line, with an FHP truck parked in front. Snow flurries can be seen cascading from the sky and clinging to car tires and the road.
There is no official word yet on how much snow has accumulated.
The rare weather event came to the Sunshine State as much of the U.S. is dealing with severe winter weather, including record-setting blizzard warnings for parts of the Deep South.
Snow reports in Florida
People across the Panhandle and northern Florida have been posting images and videos of snow. Mike’s Weather Page shared a timelapse from an Escambia County fire station that showed the snow come in and pile up (by Florida standards).
Florida Congresswoman Michelle Salzman, who represents the state’s 1st district, also shared a video of the steady fall of snow onto already flurry-blanketed grass.
The chief meteorologist at CBS affiliate WINK News happened to be in the Panhandle for the snow event and also took a photo of snow near the state border.
Over in Molino, Florida, snow was captured.
10 Tampa Bay viewer Rodney Patterson shared photos he took of snow on the ground in Pensacola.
Leonard Palmer captured multiple inches of snow on the ground in Milton, Florida — just east of Pensacola.
When did it snow last in Florida?
There are two different answers — Jan. 3, 2022, and Jan. 3, 2018.
Snow flurries were captured on video cascading from the sky on Jan. 3, 2022, in Okaloosa County, according to this article. The sheriff’s office shared the snowfall, where you could see the flurries coming down and landing on a patrol car. Deputies said it went from 75 degrees at 3 p.m. to snow at 3 a.m. “How’s that for a temperature change?” the sheriff’s office joked at the time.
Still, there weren’t reports of the snow accumulating.
If you go just a few years earlier, however, you’ll find snow that stuck around.
The National Weather Service said on Jan. 3, 2018, parts of north Florida, along with south Georgia, saw snow accumulate thanks to the first winter storm the Sunshine State had seen since 1989. Georgia of course saw the largest accumulations, up to 2 inches, but the snowfall in Florida was still measurable.
The NWS said most accumulations in Florida were less than half an inch, with 0.1 inches officially measured in Tallahassee.
This is a developing story. Have snow pictures you’d like to share? Use the “Share Me” feature on the free 10 Tampa Bay mobile app or email us at desk@10TampaBay.com. Be sure to include where the photo was taken.
