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It\u2019s quite a rare sight, but it\u2019s already been two years in a row since Florida has seen snow, with portions of the Panhandle receiving its fair share of flurries over a week ago. And there\u2019s a chance it might happen again \u2014 this time in Central Florida!<\/p>\n
The entire state is bracing for an arctic blast this weekend<\/a>, with dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills forecast by the National Weather Service. South Florida isn\u2019t out of the equation<\/a>, with temperatures falling to their lowest levels since 2010. As the cold snap moves in, dropping temperatures to the low 30s and even upper 20s, Tampa Bay could see snowflakes for the first time in 16 years!<\/p>\n Meteorologists are monitoring a rare \u201cGulf-effect snow\u201d setup that may cause a similar phenomenon as lake-effect snow seen in the Great Lakes. This occurs when cold air rushing over warm Gulf waters creates narrow bands of moisture that transform into snow flurries as they move inland.<\/p>\n \u201cSnow flurries in Tampa Bay are exceptionally rare, with only one confirmed measurable snowfall and just a handful of reports of flurries over the past century,\u201d AccuWeather<\/a> Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said. \u201cAny snowflakes that do form this weekend would melt immediately as soon as they reach roads and sidewalks.\u201d<\/p>\n The forecast currently places a 10% to 20% chance of seeing these flakes in the Tampa area between late Saturday night and early Sunday morning.<\/p>\n What makes this a historic weather event? <\/p>\n The all-time record for Tampa snow was set back in January 19, 1977. That morning, the city received 0.2 inches of measurable snowfall, marking a rare wintery event for the city. In more recent years, a mixture of sleet and light flurries were reported on January 9, 2010.<\/p>\n Whether or not it\u2019ll snow this weekend, this appears to be the most significant cold snap the city has seen since that same year in 2010.<\/p>\n How many times has it snowed in Florida this year? <\/p>\n So far, it has officially snowed once in the Sunshine State. On Sunday, January 18, a rare winter event brought measurable snow to the Florida Panhandle for the second straight year. While it didn\u2019t break records like the major storm that happened the year prior<\/a>, it was still quite a surprise.<\/p>\n Cities like Marianna, Laurel Hill, Milton and Pensacola reported everywhere from 0.1 to 2 inches of snow.<\/p>\n If the forecast for Tampa stays true, this weekend could mark the second snow event of the year for our so-called Sunshine State!<\/p>\n