The northwest of Florida, particularly the Panhandle, experienced an unprecedented weather event this Tuesday: a snowfall that blanketed much of the region in white, catching residents and drivers by surprise.
The snowfall in the Panhandle has left unusual images for the Sunshine State.
On social media, residents shared videos of streets or beaches covered in snow.
Others ventured to play or make snowmen.
This unusual phenomenon, captured in real-time by traffic cameras on Interstate 10, is part of a wave of winter storms that has hit the southeastern United States, bringing subzero temperatures, snow, ice, and freezing rain.
According to AccuWeather, this was the first time in 35 years that cities like Tallahassee and Jacksonville recorded significant snowfall.
In the westernmost part of the Panhandle, the highest accumulations were reported, reaching up to 10 centimeters of snow, an unusual amount for this subtropical region.
This phenomenon made Florida one of the 50 states in the United States to experience snowfall in a single winter, something that had not happened since 2010, as reported by CNN.
Impact on infrastructure and daily life
The roads in Florida, especially Interstate-10, turned into icy traps, with more than 50 incidents reported in the early hours of the snowfall.
Many roads became impassable due to ice and snow accumulation, causing significant traffic disruptions.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) shared images of ice-covered roads while reminding everyone of the importance of avoiding unnecessary travel.
"Stay safe and stay home! Snow, sleet, and ice can affect the roads and your ability to drive safely," they posted on their social media.
Additionally, the combination of snow, ice, and freezing rain made traffic slow and hazardous.
Air traffic was also affected: The Tallahassee International Airport closed its operations, and over 2,000 flights were canceled statewide.
These setbacks have disrupted the travel plans of thousands of people and have caused chaos in transportation systems.
Governor DeSantis declares a state of emergency
Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Monday in response to the frigid weather conditions that impacted the Panhandle and other parts of northern Florida.
In a post on X, the president urged residents to stay alert to weather warnings and avoid unnecessary risks.
"Stay alert to weather conditions and safety alerts. Be cautious in icy conditions, especially on the roads," he wrote.
Additionally, DeSantis issued an executive order authorizing the director of the State Division of Emergency Management, Kevin Guthrie, to lead the emergency response.
The order emphasized that between 1 and 3 inches of snow (approximately 2.5 to 7.6 cm) were expected in the Panhandle, with icy conditions extending eastward to the Suwannee River Valley.
It was also noted that the accumulation of ice from freezing rain could have significant impacts on roads, bridges, trees, and power lines.
The authorities activated the Florida National Guard and established emergency measures to ensure the safety of residents. Guthrie warned about the dangers of ice, which in some areas could reach a thickness of half an inch, increasing the risk of power outages and serious accidents.
Nationally, around 40 million people were under some type of weather-related threat, including 21 million under a winter storm warning.
The storm first hit Texas on Monday night, moving eastward and leaving a trail of snow, freezing rain, and sleet in its wake.
Snowfalls in Florida: why are they so uncommon?
Florida is known for its warm and mild climate, especially in the central and southern parts of the state, where cities like Miami and Orlando rarely experience temperatures near 0°C (32°F).
However, the northern part of the state, including the Panhandle, may experience colder conditions due to the influence of weather systems coming from the southeastern United States.
For snow to accumulate, the entire atmosphere must remain below 0°C (32°F). If there is warmer air at higher levels, the snow tends to mix with freezing rain or sleet, which reduces its accumulation.
This is the reason why areas like Jacksonville are more likely to experience sleet or ice rather than pure snow. On the other hand, central and southern Florida maintain temperatures high enough to rule out such phenomena.
The winter storm Enzo has brought unprecedented snow accumulations to the northwest of Florida.
According to the National Weather Service, some areas of the Panhandle have recorded up to 15 centimeters of snow, surpassing the previous state record of 10 centimeters set in 1954.
Meteorological experts described the snowfall as a "once-in-a-generation" event.
This phenomenon was made possible by a combination of cold air from the polar vortex and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, creating the ideal conditions for snowfall in the Panhandle.
According to Tom Kines, a meteorologist at AccuWeather, "it's a phenomenon that we probably won't see again in our lifetimes."
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