Cold fronts are heading toward Florida, bringing a flurry of arctic temperatures to the region. But will there be snow and could it affect one of the biggest tourist destinations in the country?
Many forecasters currently don’t think snow is likely to fall in the Sunshine State as more cold fronts move through the region over the next week.
However, some forecasters believe there is a small chance some Florida residents could see snowfall, if conditions are favorable enough.
“If the blast is intense enough during the second week of January, then it’s possible that some people in Florida could see snowflakes,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Michael Doll, according to USA Today.
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The first cold front arrives Friday, Jan. 3, causing a “rapid, but brief, cooling trend” leading into Saturday, Jan. 4, according to the National Weather Service.
Another “strong” cold front will arrive in the middle of next week. But the NWS said it believes conditions will remain “mostly dry” across South Florida.
“It is possible that some of the coldest temperatures on record could be experienced if this fully materializes and current model trends follow,” the agency said.
Cold temperatures could persist in Florida through Saturday, January 11, and Sunday, January 12, according to The Palm Beach Post. Temperatures in some areas could drop into the teens in northern parts of the state and 20 degrees in central communities.
Cold temperatures and possible snow could even cause some Walt Disney World parks to close, according to fan site Inside the Magic.
Meteorologists are reportedly not sure if it will snow in Central Florida, but it’s not out of the question. If it did, it would be the first time since 1977 that snow (less than 1 inch) had fallen in the Orlando area.
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Snow could form during the second part of the cooling period. A low pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico could pick up enough moisture to help bring snow to the region, according to CW affiliate WJXT.
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But with the chance of snow still a week away, meteorologists warn that there is still time for the forecast to change.
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What is certain, however, is that these cold fronts will lead to what will “likely be the coldest in terms of low temperatures south Florida has experienced so far this winter,” according to the NWS.
Snow is not unheard of in the Panhandle and northern Florida. Snow fell in the Panhandle almost exactly a year ago, according to Fox affiliate WOFL.
The last measurable snowfall in Florida was in January 2014. USA Today reported.
Snow hasn’t fallen in South Florida since 1977, when snow was first measured there, according to The Palm Beach Post and WOFL.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education