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Does Florida Get Snow?

The climate in Florida differs from the climate in most of the rest of the United States. For one, the southern part of Florida is a subtropical zone – temperatures rarely drop below 40°F. Then again, during winter, the northern part of Florida is way colder than the rest of the state.

Does Florida get snow?

The probability of having snow in Florida is dependent on the part of the state in reference. Snowfall in Florida is a rarity, especially in the southern and central parts of the state. Apart from some northern parts of the state, most major cities in Florida have never had snow.

sandman is disguised as a snowman on Florida beach

Although, some flurries or trace amounts of snow have been witnessed a few times.

Want to know more about snow in Florida? Well, you are in luck, as we discuss just that in this post.

What Is Winter Like in Florida?

The winter months in Florida are dry and mild. The nights in Florida are colder, but the days may be warm and sunny. Florida happens to have one of the calmest winters in the entire United States.

Tropical eastern winds blow across the southern and central parts of Florida, which ensure temperatures remain mild. In the winter, the Tampa Bay area is a bit wet and cold due to El Niño, while La Niña makes it warmer and drier than usual.

On certain occasions, the peninsula is visited by a cold front. This causes near-freezing temperatures at night in central Florida. However, this is not common, and it only happens every few years.

Throughout most of the year, Florida residents can wear short sleeves. But for those winter nights, they may need some sweaters and light jackets.

How Cold Does It Get in Florida?

As we already mentioned, the winter in Florida is one of the mildest in the United States. On average, the northern part of Florida will experience temperatures as low as 40°F (4.4°C) to 45°F (7.2°C) in January.

The southern region, on the other hand, is slightly higher at 60°F (15.6°C) to 65°F (18.3°C) around the same time.

The coldest part of Florida during winter is the north. Some of the coldest cities include places like Gainesville, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee.

In general, the areas closest to the Georgia border experience significantly low temperatures.

Miami, Florida, USA Skyline

Which Side of Florida Is Warmer in Winter?

During winter in Florida, the more you travel south, the warmer it gets.

So, places like Miami, Naples, Fort Lauderdale, the Keys, and Marco Island will be warmer in the winter.

Miami is the warmest city in Florida in the winter. It also happens to have one of the hottest weather as well.

During the day, winter temperatures reach as high as 70°F (21°C) while the night temperatures fall to about 62°F (17°C). It makes Miami a popular destination for travelers looking to avoid cold winters.

Tampa is another part of Florida that remains warm during winter. During the day, winter temperatures reach as high as 62°F (17°C) while the night temperatures fall to about 53°F (12°C). In the winter, precipitation takes the form of rain which averages a few inches each month.

Orlando is also another part of the state of Florida known for its warm weather during winter. During the day, winter temperatures reach as high as 62°F (17°C) while the night temperatures fall to about 51°F (11°C). During winter Orlando is one of the hottest cities in the United States.

Which Places in the United States Do Not Get Snow?

Not every part of the United States experiences snowfall during winter. But this does not mean that these places do not get snow at all. It means snowfall is not a common sight in these referenced places.

Below, we list some of the states that do not get snow regularly:

Florida

Aerial View of South Beach, Miami, Florida

Florida is number one on the list of states that do not experience snow on a regular. A combination of low elevation and low altitude ensures there is usually no snow in the state.

For instance, in Miami, there has been no snow since the 1800s, when records began. Although, there was said to be snow in January 1977.

Jacksonville is also another part of Florida that has not experienced snow for over 100 years. The last time there was snow in Jacksonville was on the 12th of February 1899. The snowfall that day was a mere 1.9 inches. 

There has been no snow in the Florida Keys or Key West since 1872 – when weather recording began. Since Florida has low elevation and subtropical climate, there is hardly any snow throughout the southern region.

Naples has also never experienced any snow, according to local meteorologists.

There might have been a few snowflake sightings in Naples. But there has been no significant snowfall in Naples for a little over 70 years.

The Everglades City of Florida is another part of the United States that has not experienced snow in almost 200 years. It is located close to the Gulf Coast and is also known for its small-town charm and swamps.

Hilo, Hawaii

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency and National Weather Service, there has been no snow sighting in Hilo for 150-200 years.

Hilo is known for its waterfalls, rainforest zoo, and lush scenery.

Long Beach, California

The annual snowfall in Long Beach is an average of 0 inches.

The temperatures in Long Beach rarely go below 46 degrees Fahrenheit. The sun in Long Beach shines 287 days each year.

Phoenix, Arizona

You may find snow in the mountain regions encompassing Phoenix. But you will rarely see any snow within the city.

The highest amount of snowfall ever recorded in Phoenix was an inch. It happened on the 20th of January 1933 and again on the 21st and 22nd of January 1937.

Sacramento, California

Sacramento rarely experiences freezing temperatures, and it averages an annual snowfall of 0 inches each year. Although in 2009, traces of freezing precipitation was recorded.

The last significant snowfall recorded on the 5th of February 1976 was about 2 inches. On the 4th and 5th of January 1888, the snowfall was recorded to be about 3.5 inches.

San Diego, California

Section San Diego California Downtown City Skyline Waterfront

The Mediterranean climate in San Diego provides wet temperate winter and dry summer. Residents of San Diego may experience 60+ degree weather 344 days in a year.

There have been only five snow flurry sightings in almost 125 years. The last snow flurry sighting was on the 14th of February 2008.

The last snowfall measured around the areas surrounding San Diego came on the 13th of December 1967. The coastal regions of San Diego do not experience any ice or snow.

Is Florida Hotter than Texas?

Florida is not hotter than Texas. In general, the summer in Texas is warmer than in most states. Due to the low humidity and how dry the state of Texas is, temperatures tend to soar.

The humidity of Florida is higher than that of Texas because of the water surrounding it. When the humidity goes up, the heat index also rises, and this can cause some discomfort.

Conclusion

Florida does not experience any significant snowfall, especially in the southern part of the state. Winter in Florida is one of the mildest in the whole country.

In fact, some of the major cities in this state have not experienced snow in years. Places like Miami, Jacksonville, and Orlando have not experienced snow in over 30 years.

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