“Florida’s snow day” is something I never thought I would write, but in an incredible turn of events, North Milton in the Florida Panhandle got hit with 9.8 inches of snow Tuesday night. This smashed Florida’s previous record of 4 inches from back in 1954.
“The old record was 4 inches, so this will be double, if not more than double the old record,” said Max Defender 8 Meteorologist Amanda Holly.
Throughout the panhandle, the National Weather Service measured snowfall between 8 to 9 inches. They’ll need some time to confirm the final numbers. It was reported that Pensacola received the same amount as snow as Colorado Springs in the months of December and January.
Florida hasn’t seen actual snow since 1989, when a quick cold snap brought light snow that didn’t stick around. A strong cold front moving through the Southeast triggered this week’s winter weather.
As roads got worse, schools closed their doors. Officials in affected areas told everyone: stay home unless it’s absolutely necessary. Which is good, cause no one wants Florida drivers on wet, icy roads. While workers focused on clearing main roads, side streets were still dangerous with packed snow and ice. Most neighborhood roads went untouched.
Winter storm warnings popped up across northern counties while road crews worked to clear the snow. Icy roads might take several days to fully clear.
This is the first major winter storm since the cold snap hit 34 years ago – and that one didn’t leave any measurable snow. For most people living here, this is their first real taste of winter.
Weather experts say this cold snap isn’t over yet. The unusual cold caught many Floridians off guard. However, some took it as an advantage to experience a “Florida snow day”. Instead of a traditional sled, Floridians use shopping carts and skim boards.
