As December arrives, Florida is bracing for continued freezing temperatures this weekend and into next week, raising curiosity about the possibility of snow in the Sunshine State.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a freeze warning for parts of northeast and north-central Florida, effective overnight through Monday morning. This warning comes as a polar cold front moves across the state.
The freeze warning extends along the I-10 and I-75 corridors, stretching west from Jacksonville to Gainesville. Frost advisories are also in effect on the eastern edge of these areas, lasting from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday.
The NWS predicts temperatures could drop as low as 30 degrees in these areas, with the freeze warning issued when temperatures are expected to remain below 32 degrees for an extended period.
While some may dream of a winter wonderland, Floridians should not expect snow. Instead, dry air will dominate as the cold front moves in.
“Currently, there is no chance of snow through the holiday weekend and into the first week of December,” said David Reese, a meteorologist with the NWS in Tallahassee. “Dry air is pushing in behind the cold fronts, with a little moisture moving through.”
The western Panhandle and northeast Florida will experience similar conditions: cold, dry, and clear skies.
“Our piece of Florida isn’t expecting snow,” said Steve Miller, a meteorologist with NWS Mobile, Alabama. “It will be cold and breezy, with inland freezes possible Saturday and Sunday.”
Although snow is rare in Florida, it has occurred on occasion, surprising residents unfamiliar with the phenomenon. The first documented snowfall in Florida dates back to 1774, according to the Florida Climate Center. Since 1886, there have been more than 80 months where a trace of snow has been recorded somewhere in the state.
Monday night could be the coldest of the season, with temperatures potentially dipping to freezing in Duval County and reaching as low as 28 degrees in some areas, which would mark a “hard freeze.” This is especially possible in inland areas of northern Florida, according to Angie Enyedi, an NWS meteorologist in Jacksonville.
The NWS Climate Prediction Center has warned of a potential “hard freeze” early next week across the Southeast, including northern Florida. The center has advised residents to protect sensitive vegetation and to bundle up if traveling south.
A hard freeze warning is issued when temperatures are forecasted to remain below 28 degrees for at least three hours. These warnings are more common in rural parts of southern Florida, but are rare in coastal metropolitan areas.
Earlier this week, freeze warnings were issued for nine Southern states as a cold front brought subfreezing temperatures overnight on Thanksgiving.
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