This week 32 years ago, January 19th to be exact, was the only time in history measurable snow has been observed in South Florida. You may have been lucky enough to see a snow flake or two in winters past, but on January 19, 1977 snow covered the ground from the Panhandle to Miami. It was an amazing day. Teachers let children out of school to play in the snow, and old video from that day(film at that time) shows kids making snowmen and having snowball fights. The photo below is from the Tampa area. Notice the palms in the background.
This incredible event actually began a day earlier in North Florida, where 2" of snow was reported as far south as Pensecola. Tampa recieved 0.2" of snow, and about the same fell around Orlando and Vero. but it didn't stop there. Through the night the snow continued to march south, with the West Palm Airport reporting snow in their 6AM observation. By 9AM residents of Ft. Lauderdale and Miami reported snow on the ground too.
The all time record low temperature of 27F was set during this event. In Miami beach the mercury dropped to 32F. The deep freeze lasted several days, and President Carter declared 35 Florida counties disaster areas. Some citrus groves never recovered, with over $100 million in damage to crops. Do you remember that day?
