FLORIDA — Measurable snowfall in Florida is extremely uncommon, but historical weather records show it is not impossible, even during February, which is typically one of the state’s cooler months.
Florida’s subtropical climate, moderated by surrounding warm ocean waters, generally prevents sustained cold air from reaching the surface. However, on rare occasions, strong Arctic air masses have pushed deep into the southeastern United States, creating conditions cold enough for frozen precipitation to occur in parts of the state.
The most well-documented example occurred in February 1977, when snow flurries and light accumulations were observed across northern Florida.
Cities including:
Tallahassee and Jacksonville reported snow mixed with sleet, with some locations recording measurable accumulation. Snow was even reported as far south as the Orlando area, though accumulations there were minimal, according to the National Weather Service.
Another notable event took place in January 2018, when Winter Storm Grayson brought snow to parts of northern Florida. While this event occurred outside February, it demonstrated that modern atmospheric patterns can still produce rare winter weather in the Deep South when conditions align.
For snow to occur in Florida, several factors must coincide: a sufficiently cold air mass, adequate moisture, and a storm system capable of producing precipitation while surface temperatures remain at or below freezing. These conditions are most likely in northern portions of the state, particularly the Florida Panhandle, which lies closer to the Gulf Coast storm track and is more exposed to continental cold air outbreaks.
Southern Florida, including cities such as Miami, has no verified records of measurable snowfall. In those areas, temperatures rarely fall low enough for snow to survive to the ground.
While February snow in Florida remains a rare historical anomaly rather than a regular occurrence, past data confirms that measurable snowfall has happened under exceptional atmospheric conditions, making it an unusual but documented part of the state’s weather history.
