Cold fronts are heading for Florida, bringing a blast of arctic temperatures to the region. But will there be snow and could it affect one of the state’s top tourist destinations?
Many forecasters currently don’t think it is likely that snow will fall in the Sunshine State as multiple cold fronts move through the region in the next week or so.
However, some forecasters believe there is a slight chance for some Florida residents to see snowfall, should conditions be favorable enough.
“If the blast is intense enough during the second week of January, then it’s possible some people in Florida can see some snowflakes,” said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Michael Doll, according to USA Today.
The first cold front moves in on Friday, Jan. 3, triggering “a rapid, but short, cooling trend” leading into Saturday, Jan. 4, according to the National Weather Service.
A second “strong” cold front will move in around the middle of next week. But the NWS said they believe conditions will remain “mostly dry” across South Florida.
“It is possible that some of the coldest temperatures to date could be experienced if this were to fully materialize and follow current model trends,” the agency said.
Cold temperatures could last in Florida through Saturday, Jan. 11, and Sunday, Jan. 12, according to The Palm Beach Post. Temperatures in some areas could dip into the teens in northern parts of the state and 20s in central communities.
The cold temperatures and possibly snow could even cause some parks at Walt Disney World to shut down, according to fan site Inside the Magic.
Meteorologists are reportedly unsure if it will snow in Central Florida, but it hasn’t been ruled out. If it did, it would mark the first time since 1977 that snow fell (less than 1 inch) in the Orlando area.
Snow could form during the latter part of the cold snap. A low pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico could muster up enough moisture to help bring snow to the region, according to CW affiliate WJXT.
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But with a week until the chance for snow, meteorologists warn there is still time for the forecast to change.
What is certain, however, is that these cold fronts will usher in what “will likely be the coolest in terms of low temperatures that South Florida has experienced thus far this winter to date,” according to the NWS.
Snow is not unheard of in the Panhandle and North Florida. Snow fell in the Panhandle almost exactly a year ago, according to Fox affiliate WOFL.
The last measurable snow fell in Florida in January 2014, USA Today reported.
Snow has not fallen in South Florida since 1977, when snow was measured there for the first time, according to The Palm Beach Post and WOFL.