Has Florida ever seen an ice-storm?

[Amanzi]

I was just wondering if anyone had any info about past florida cold "events" particularly if Florida had ever experiance any ice storms.

Dont laugh you northern folks... a hard freeze is a big WOW for my area

We had that freak orographic snow, I think it was 2002 and that was SOOO cool.

[Scorpion]

I remember that! It was January 2003. It was unprecedented, 43 for a high here! There were actual flurries all the way down here during the day! And it got down to a record 28 that night! Hopefully it happens again this year .

[Amanzi]

I remember that! It was January 2003. It was unprecedented, 43 for a high here! There were actual flurries all the way down here during the day! And it got down to a record 28 that night! Hopefully it happens again this year .

Oh my gosh was it really 2003... now I really feel old that I cant remember one year from the next I would love to see that again.. cars had stopped along the A1A and people were standing on the beach with there tounges sticking out. Very funny sight.

[Stormsfury]

I can't find anything on the web regarding icestorms in Florida ... which is probably in part due to cold air damming scenarios playing a huge factor in favorable icestorm setups that almost never make it down into Florida ...

I can remember a couple of instances where there were IP/ZR reports from Florida, but can't remember if it was a significant icestorm event or not ...

[Steve]

>>I can't find anything on the web regarding icestorms in Florida ... which is probably in part due to cold air damming scenarios playing a huge factor in favorable icestorm setups that almost never make it down into Florida

There have definitely been snow storms, ice storms and all other sorts of wintry weather in Florida over the last 20 years. Mobile got 4" of snow back in 96 or 97, and Pensacola wasn't far behind. When it gets cold in the southeast, it's usually 8-14 degrees colder in Tallahassee than it is in New Orleans. It's snowed there a bunch of times. And we've had more ice storms here in my lifetime than snowstorms. So no doubt Florida has had some too (besides snow events).

Steve

[chadtm80]

Has Florida ever seen an ice-storm?

I once dropped my ice tray from my freezer all over the floor.. Does that count?

[storms NC]

When I lived in Ft Myers it snowed. I think it was 75 or 76

[chadtm80]

FYI.. We did have very very very small Flakes last season.. Was ocean effect snow in the Daytona Beach Area.

[jdray]

I was just wondering if anyone had any info about past florida cold "events" particularly if Florida had ever experiance any ice storms.

Dont laugh you northern folks... a hard freeze is a big WOW for my area

We had that freak orographic snow, I think it was 2002 and that was SOOO cool.

Christmas 1989 saw freezing rain turn to ice here in the Jacksonville area.

http://www.news4jax.com/weather/2683348/detail.html

But the most paralyzing event occurred two days before Christmas 1989 (pictured, right). A steady light rain and tumbling temperatures caused the rain to turn to freezing rain which made travel over bridges and overpasses impossible.

As the temperature fell to 26 degrees on Dec. 23, the rain turned to sleet, then to snow. The snow did not melt and winds caused snowdrifts several inches deep in some areas.

This was the first white Christmas in Jacksonville's history, the snow lasting in some areas for three or four days.

I remember the car having a thick coat of ice, near 2 inches worth all over. Snow lasted for about 5 days in some areas.

[Lowpressure]

I was home for the Holidays (USMC) visiting my mother in Jax in 1989 and we had about 1 1/2 inches of ice before the transition to snow, Dec 23rd. Temp dropped to 17 on the patio of my mothers house.

[Amanzi]

>>I can't find anything on the web regarding icestorms in Florida ... which is probably in part due to cold air damming scenarios playing a huge factor in favorable icestorm setups that almost never make it down into Florida

There have definitely been snow storms, ice storms and all other sorts of wintry weather in Florida over the last 20 years. Mobile got 4" of snow back in 96 or 97, and Pensacola wasn't far behind. When it gets cold in the southeast, it's usually 8-14 degrees colder in Tallahassee than it is in New Orleans. It's snowed there a bunch of times. And we've had more ice storms here in my lifetime than snowstorms. So no doubt Florida has had some too (besides snow events).

Steve

Thanks for the info Steve! I hope I get to experiance some frozen stuff....

[Brent]

>>I can't find anything on the web regarding icestorms in Florida ... which is probably in part due to cold air damming scenarios playing a huge factor in favorable icestorm setups that almost never make it down into Florida

There have definitely been snow storms, ice storms and all other sorts of wintry weather in Florida over the last 20 years. Mobile got 4" of snow back in 96 or 97, and Pensacola wasn't far behind. When it gets cold in the southeast, it's usually 8-14 degrees colder in Tallahassee than it is in New Orleans. It's snowed there a bunch of times. And we've had more ice storms here in my lifetime than snowstorms. So no doubt Florida has had some too (besides snow events).

Steve

Thanks for the info Steve! I hope I get to experiance some frozen stuff....

A little snow and ice is fun, but more than that and you have serious problems. Since any snow that would likely fall in Florida would be wet and heavy(because of it being close to freezing when it happens), if you get more than a couple of inches it can weight down trees and powerlines and you don't want power outages. Ice it takes even less.

[yzerfan]

And people who don't know how to freakin' drive in the white stuff and either panic about it or assume their Suburban is immune from low friction coefficient events.

(I grew up in the Lake Michigan lake effect snow belt. You learn quickly how to deal with winter driving conditions or you'd be housebound four months a year)

[NC George]

I can confirm the event of Christmas Eve 89 as well. I was 19, and my family was driving from Eastern NC to Miami. I saw the Weather Channel before we left, and said we shouldn't go. After getting on the road at 5am my stepfather felt a vibration in the wheel and wanted to have the tires balanced. 2 hours later we get back on the road just as the snow starts. I-95 backs up and traffic slows down to 35 mph, where it stays the entire way to Bruswick, GA. There the Red Cross was setting up shelters for the soon-to-be-stranded public on Christmas Eve.

We purchased the last hot food at the Krystal, and continued on. In Jacksonville, FL they were beginning to turn around traffic across the St. Johns River on I-95, effectively closing I-95 that night. We were one of the last cars let through (perhaps because we were in a Volvo.) Once across the river the traffic cleared dramatically, and the snow gradually tapered off. The road cleared of snow quickly after J'ville, and by Ft. Pierce flurries were tapering off. By the time we got to Miami, it was 7 am, 25 hours after we left. The trip normally took 15 with my parents driving, and with the higher speed limits now I can do it in about 12 hours.

We turned around and drove home the day after Christmas, giving us a big 1 day in Miami with about 40 hours of driving. My mom later admitted we should have heeded my warning and not gone at all. Incidentally we missed the only White Christmas in recorded history in Eastern NC where I live.

[fci]

In 1977 we had snow flurries in MIami.
Next day the Miami Herald trumpted about the "Day it Snowed in MIami".

[storms NC]

Are you sure it was Christmas Eve. The reason I ask is cause My brother and his family was coming up from Fla on I95 and couldn't go any more and had to stay in Bruswick Ga for 3 to 4 days they were snow bound. and this was Dec 21th or 22.

I was in panama city and left the same day he did.But I called my aunt and she told me what what was happening and I took the northen route. We had the big snow flakes in Panama City. We got out about 50 miles out and the stars were out. Had good weather all the way. We went though Atl Ga then to Raleigh.

We couldn't get to my aunts and grandmother house in Havelock nc. They had no light for a week and My Grandmother had to cook Christmas dinner in the fireplace. When I see my Aunt I will get some pic. The lived on Adams creek and the wind was blowing hard and it froze it as it blew up the water. She has some cool pic. I will share them once I get them from her.

Well I just wish I could see snow like that once again here. We don't get a whole lot of snow here. I moved here in wallace to the farm in 94. So I would love to see that happen again this year would just fine.

Merry Christmas to ya

I can confirm the event of Christmas Eve 89 as well. I was 19, and my family was driving from Eastern NC to Miami. I saw the Weather Channel before we left, and said we shouldn't go. After getting on the road at 5am my stepfather felt a vibration in the wheel and wanted to have the tires balanced. 2 hours later we get back on the road just as the snow starts. I-95 backs up and traffic slows down to 35 mph, where it stays the entire way to Bruswick, GA. There the Red Cross was setting up shelters for the soon-to-be-stranded public on Christmas Eve.

We purchased the last hot food at the Krystal, and continued on. In Jacksonville, FL they were beginning to turn around traffic across the St. Johns River on I-95, effectively closing I-95 that night. We were one of the last cars let through (perhaps because we were in a Volvo.) Once across the river the traffic cleared dramatically, and the snow gradually tapered off. The road cleared of snow quickly after J'ville, and by Ft. Pierce flurries were tapering off. By the time we got to Miami, it was 7 am, 25 hours after we left. The trip normally took 15 with my parents driving, and with the higher speed limits now I can do it in about 12 hours.

We turned around and drove home the day after Christmas, giving us a big 1 day in Miami with about 40 hours of driving. My mom later admitted we should have heeded my warning and not gone at all. Incidentally we missed the only White Christmas in recorded history in Eastern NC where I live.