An unusual snowfall surprised residents of the Tampa Bay area this Saturday, where snowflakes were reported for the first time in 16 years, as confirmed by WFLA and Telemundo 51.
The Arctic blast sweeping through the southeastern United States has caused sub-zero temperatures in much of the state and has left unprecedented images in areas where winter typically brings only rain or slight drops in temperature.
According to WFLA, the first reports came from Citrus, Pasco, and Hernando counties, where several residents recorded bursts of snow falling on rooftops and vehicles.
"Viewers in Brooksville and Pasco County also reported snow flurries," the network reported.
Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli from the channel confirmed on social media that "a mass of dry air" combined with the Arctic front caused the phenomenon: "This dry slot is crazy... but it was modeled quite well in advance. It must be very frustrating for snow lovers," he wrote on X.
The National Weather Service (NWS Tampa Bay) reported that at 4:45 AM on Sunday, February 1, snow flurries were observed in the vicinity of its local office.
Meteorological authorities specified that daytime temperatures would only reach between 4 and 10 °C (40s and 50s °F), while at night they would drop again to levels between –6 and 1 °C (20s and 30s °F), advising residents to "keep warm."
On social media, the account TampaHoy shared images of the phenomenon in Crystal River and Inverness, while hundreds of users posted videos expressing their amazement at what they called "a weather rarity."
According to Telemundo 51, the snowfall also extended to Gainesville, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee, where flakes were observed on Saturday afternoon.
A "light snowfall" was reported at Jacksonville International Airport, partially covering the pavement.
The network recalled that the latest snowfall recorded in the region occurred in January 2010 and December 1989, while the most remembered event took place in January 1977, when up to 5 centimeters of snow fell about 30 kilometers east of Tampa.
Miami-Dade and Broward counties remain under a freeze warning from Saturday night into early Sunday, with temperatures potentially dropping below 0 °C, according to the National Weather Service.
The cold front continues to move eastward, and temperatures are expected to keep dropping overnight into Sunday, marking one of the coldest winters in Florida in over a decade.
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