On January 19, 1977, South Florida witnessed an extraordinary event: snow falling for the first time in recorded history. Image via capture.
The 1977 snow event was triggered by an intense Arctic cold front that swept through Florida, bringing freezing temperatures and an upper-level trough that produced precipitation.
Can you imagine areas of Florida like Miami Beach, Homestead, West Palm Beach, Hollywood, and Royal Palm Ranger Station covered in snow?
Well, this really happened 47 years ago, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
On January 19, 1977, South Florida witnessed an extraordinary event: snow falling for the first time in recorded history. This rare phenomenon captivated residents and visitors alike, overshadowing even national news such as President Jimmy Carter’s inauguration.
The snowfall extended across Southeast Florida, with reports from areas as far south as Homestead and Miami Beach. Observers officially recorded snow in locations including West Palm Beach, Hollywood, and Royal Palm Ranger Station in Miami-Dade County. Even the Bahamas experienced a mix of snow and rain in Freeport.
The event was triggered by an intense Arctic cold front that swept through Florida, bringing freezing temperatures and an upper-level trough that produced precipitation. Despite air temperatures being slightly above freezing, a low freezing level of 1,500 feet allowed snow to reach the ground without melting.
Although Miami International Airport did not observe snow directly, widespread eyewitness accounts and reports from nearby cooperative stations confirmed its occurrence, earning an asterisk in Miami’s weather records.
The cold wave accompanying the snow caused Miami to experience one of its coldest days on record, with a high of just 47°F. The chill deepened on the night of January 19, plunging temperatures below freezing across South Florida. The agricultural sector suffered catastrophic losses, with damages exceeding $350 million statewide.
The question is, can this happen again? Chances are low, according to former News 6 Chief Meteorologist Tom Sorrels.
“I would say, with the warming we have experienced in the last few decades, the chance of a repeat is slim. However, part of the climate changing is that we not only get ‘Global Warming’ — we get ‘Global Weirdness.’ Wild swings, heavy precipitation, crazy swings of the jet stream… With that kind of action, most anything is possible,” he said.
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