Snow. In Florida. Yes, really! Early on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, around 2 a.m., snow surprised everyone. From snowflakes on Pensacola Beach to 10 inches of snow in Milton, Floridians woke up to something they’d never expect—snow everywhere!
And of course, people had fun with it. They grabbed boards and pool floats to slide down driveways, built snowmen on the beach, and even jumped into their freezing pools just for laughs.
Social media was flooded with videos of people enjoying the snow like kids.
Where Did It Snow in Florida?
A rare winter weather event brought snow to places that almost never see it. From Pensacola to Jacksonville, snowfall ranged from light dustings to record-breaking totals. Milton saw the most snow in Florida with a preliminary total of 10 inches. Pensacola also broke its record with 7.6 inches, surpassing the previous 2.3-inch record from 1954.
Further east, Panama City got 2 inches, and areas around Tallahassee reported 1 to 2 inches. Even Jacksonville experienced a light dusting of snow.
The unusual winter weather wasn’t limited to Florida. Mobile, Alabama, reported 7.5 inches, smashing its previous record of 3.6 inches set in 1973. Louisiana, under its first-ever blizzard warning, saw up to 10 inches in Lafayette. Texas cities like Houston received up to 6 inches of snow, while parts of Georgia saw up to 8 inches. North and South Carolina also got snow, with Myrtle Beach and Wilmington each seeing 5 inches.
What Is the Coldest It Has Ever Been in Florida?
Florida’s coldest day happened on February 13, 1899, when the temperature in Tallahassee dropped to -2°F making it the coldest temperature ever recorded in the state. On that same day, the highest temperature only reached 22°F.
Snow fell in Tallahassee during this historic cold snap, but no one recorded how much snow actually accumulated. It’s hard to imagine temperatures like that in Florida, but it really happened!
How Rare is it for Snow to Fall in the Sunshine State?
Snow in Florida is incredibly rare, but it has happened more than 80 times since 1886, according to historical records. The most recent snowfall was on January 28, 2014, when Pensacola saw about an inch of snow.
The earliest documented snowfall in Florida dates back to 1774, but snow in South Florida wasn’t recorded until January 19, 1977.
Here are a few examples of snow in Florida’s history:
- February 2, 1951: St. Augustine and Crescent City saw 2 inches.
- March 6, 1954: Milton recorded 4 inches, the most in one day in Florida.
- February 13, 1958: Jacksonville got 1.5 inches, and Tallahassee had 2.8 inches.
- December 23, 1989: Jacksonville had several inches, marking its first White Christmas.
- March 12, 1993: Parts of the Panhandle saw up to 4 inches during a major storm.
- January 8-9, 2010: Snow flurries were reported as far south as Orlando and Tampa.
Who knew Florida could handle snow like this? Social media lit up with Floridians embracing the rare winter weather, turning the unexpected snowfall into a day of fun and laughter.
This snow day wasn’t just rare—it was unforgettable and absolutely hilarious!
