Although snow in Florida is not as rare as it is believed to be, the farthest south snow had been previously observed was along a Fort Myers to Fort Pierce line in February 1899. A strong arctic high pressure area settled over the lower Mississippi Valley and pumped very cold air into Florida (Figure 1).

Yes, though it is extremely rare, Florida does get snow, and 2026 has been a historic year for it. On January 18, 2026, measurable snow fell across the Florida Panhandle for the second consecutive year, with Laurel Hill reporting up to 2 inches. This followed the massive "Winter Storm Enzo" in January 2025, which saw record-breaking accumulations in Pensacola. Historically, snow has been documented in Florida fewer than 100 times since 1886. The most famous event occurred in January 1977, when snow fell as far south as Miami and Homestead, the only time in recorded history that "Magic City" saw snowflakes. In 2026, while Central and South Florida (like Orlando and Miami) typically only experience "cold snaps" with freeze warnings, the Panhandle has seen a shift toward more frequent wintry flurries. Despite these rare events, the snow usually melts by noon, as Florida’s sandy soil and subtropical sun quickly reclaim the landscape for the "Sunshine State."