In the past year and a half, North Florida has faced three hurricanes, two intense wind storms, and a tornado outbreak. This time, however, the weather was something completely unexpected.
Meet the Great Southern Snowstorm of 2025, a monumental winter event that shattered Florida’s snowfall records. It left a significant mark on areas from Louisiana to western Florida.
In the eastern Panhandle, temperatures stayed just above freezing, which kept us from the highest snow totals. Still, Tallahassee saw its first significant snowfall in 35 years, inviting snowball fights and snowmen.
So, what happened during this wild weather event? Let’s dive into the unique circumstances that led to this snowy spectacle.
This unusual storm was largely influenced by cold air from the North Pole mixing with moisture. Winter storms in this area are rare, often occurring only every 10 to 20 years. Despite the current La Niña pattern, which usually brings warmer, dryer winters, this storm managed to form.
Conditions were fortunate this season. A strong polar vortex stretched southward, allowing cold air to sweep into the Gulf Coast. Such a setup hasn’t been seen since the Great Freeze of 1895, when 10-20 inches of snow fell in parts of Texas and Louisiana.
Then came the storm. Mysteriously, heavy snowfall surprised us as snow fell combined with reports of thundersnow and thundersleet. Coastal areas received far more snow than predicted. For example, in Pensacola, nearly 9 inches fell from about 0.87 inches of moisture. Milton broke its past record, reaching a total of 10 inches.
So, why did forecasting models miss the snowfall total? It’s simple. Rare weather events are tough to predict, and the models were based on typical conditions. Additionally, ocean temperatures slightly above normal contributed to increased moisture, further complicating things.
In Tallahassee, elevated temperatures and unpredictable atmospheric conditions led to a chaotic mix of rain, sleet, and snow. In the end, the city logged about 1.9 inches of snow—a respectable achievement, but still less than neighboring areas like Blountstown, which reported over 6 inches.
As winter progresses, temperatures will likely return to typical La Niña patterns, warming up to the 70s. So, if you’re dreaming of snow in Florida, remember—there’s only about a 1% chance each winter for a storm like this to happen again. Even though 2025 was a spectacular event, the next one may take years or even decades to unfold.
Weather events connect us and remind us of the world’s unpredictability. So, let’s hold on to the magic of this winter week, carry the memories with us, and keep an eye on the skies for whatever nature might bring next.
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