Cold fronts are moving towards Florida, bringing very cold temperatures to the state. But will it snow, and could this affect popular tourist spots like Disney World?
Most weather experts don’t think snow is likely as multiple cold fronts pass through Florida in the coming week. However, some believe there is a small chance of snowfall if the weather conditions are just right.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Michael Doll told USA Today, “If the cold blast is strong enough during the second week of January, some areas in Florida might see snowflakes.”
The first cold front will arrive on Friday, January 3, leading to a brief but sharp cooling trend that will last into Saturday, January 4, according to the National Weather Service. A second, stronger cold front is expected around the middle of next week. However, the NWS believes the weather will stay mostly dry in South Florida.
The National Weather Service also mentioned that if current models hold true, Florida might experience some of its coldest temperatures of the season. These chilly temperatures could continue through January 11 and 12. In northern parts of the state, temperatures might drop to the teens, while in central Florida, they could dip into the 20s.
The cold weather and possible snow could even cause some Disney World parks to close, according to the fan site Inside the Magic. Meteorologists are still unsure about snow in Central Florida, but it hasn’t been ruled out. If it does happen, it would be the first snowfall in the Orlando area since 1977, when less than an inch of snow fell.
The snow could form later in the cold snap if a low-pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico brings enough moisture, as reported by CW affiliate WJXT. However, weather forecasts can still change in the coming days.
One thing is certain: these cold fronts will bring the coldest temperatures South Florida has seen so far this winter, according to the NWS.
Snow isn’t a rare event in Florida’s Panhandle and North Florida. In fact, the Panhandle saw snow almost exactly one year ago, as reported by Fox affiliate WOFL. The last measurable snowfall in Florida happened in January 2014, according to USA Today. Snow hasn’t been recorded in South Florida since 1977, as noted by The Palm Beach Post and WOFL.