Rare Snowfall Blankets Florida Panhandle Again In 2026

On the morning of January 18, 2026, residents across the Florida Panhandle awoke to a scene few ever expect in the Sunshine State: a fresh, powdery dusting of snow blanketing lawns, palm fronds, and even the sandy beaches. For the second consecutive year, snow fell in Florida, marking a rare meteorological event that has captivated locals and weather-watchers alike. According to the National Weather Service, the storm system responsible for this wintry surprise brought measurable snowfall to several communities, with some areas seeing accumulations not witnessed in decades.

The event began late Saturday, January 17, as winter storm warnings were issued for a swath of the Deep South stretching from Macon, Georgia, down to Tallahassee, Florida, as reported by The Associated Press. Snowflakes first appeared in the western Florida Panhandle, with flurries continuing into the early hours of Sunday. By sunrise, traffic cameras along Interstate 10 revealed a landscape transformed—roadsides and grassy patches coated in white, while palm trees sported frosty crowns.

While snow is rare in Florida, back-to-back years of measurable snowfall are virtually unheard of. As NPR noted, the 2026 snowfall occurred almost exactly one year after a historic storm in mid-January 2025, when Pensacola saw between 6 to 8 inches of snow. That previous storm, dubbed Winter Storm Enzo, shattered records across the Gulf Coast, with Milton, Florida, recording an astonishing 9.8 inches—breaking the state’s previous record of 4 inches set in 1954.

This year’s totals were more modest but still significant for the region. According to the National Weather Service, Marianna received the highest official measurement at 1.3 inches, while Pensacola International Airport recorded 0.09 inches over a six-hour period ending at 5:53 a.m. North Okaloosa County reported up to 2 inches in Laurel Hill, though most locations saw amounts ranging from a light dusting to around 1 inch. Other communities such as Milton, Navarre, Pace, Harold, Valparaiso, Niceville, Miramar Beach, and De Funiak Springs also reported measurable snow, with accumulations between 0.1 and 0.7 inches.

Videos and photos quickly circulated online, showing snow falling along the Interstate 10 corridor north of Fort Walton Beach, and in towns like Chipley, where WESH 2 News broadcast live coverage of the white fluff making its way further into the state. For many families, especially those with young children, it was a magical, first-time experience. In Marianna, one Orlando family was seen marveling at the snow—an event so rare that it’s been documented fewer than 100 times in Florida since 1886, according to WESH 2.

While the snow delighted many, it also brought challenges. In Georgia, heavier snowfall was forecast, with up to 3 inches expected in central parts of the state. The Georgia Department of Transportation responded by deploying salt trucks and monitoring for black ice, as temperatures continued to drop Sunday night. The Associated Press reported that travel delays were possible across the region as a result of the wintry conditions.

Unlike the extraordinary accumulations of 2025, this year’s snow did not linger long on the ground. The air was warm enough that snow melted quickly from roads, though it remained visible on grass and rooftops for a brief, picturesque window. By late morning, as the cold front pushed through, the snow line retreated and rain returned to many areas. According to WPBF 25 News, moderate to briefly heavy snowfall was observed near Bruce in Walton County and up to Dawson, Georgia, before the precipitation transitioned back to rain by 10:15 a.m.

Elsewhere in the state, the winter storm’s effects were felt in other ways. Tallahassee, the capital, saw only frigid rain rather than snow, while further south, places like Orlando and Naples faced freeze warnings and cold weather advisories. The National Weather Service predicted temperatures would fall to at least 25 degrees Fahrenheit in Orlando, with wind chills dipping into the low 20s. Naples and surrounding areas braced for wind chills near 29 degrees. However, as meteorologist Joe Wegman told NPR, the cold snap would be brief: "We're only expecting this level of cold for tonight. And then, even by tomorrow night, we'll have lows in the upper 30s. So, just still cold, well below normal. By Tuesday night, lows are back up into the upper 40s."

Looking back, the 2025 storm remains a benchmark for Florida winter weather. Over two days in January 2025, Pensacola recorded 8.9 inches of snow, breaking its previous two-day record of 3.0 inches set in February 1895, according to the National Weather Service. Tallahassee accumulated 1.9 inches over that same period, and record cold temperatures as low as 13 degrees Fahrenheit were documented across the region. The impact was felt as far east as Interstate 75 and down to Taylor County in the Big Bend area, with both snow and sleet reported.

For context, measurable snow in Florida is so rare that the last time Central Florida saw even a dusting was December 1989, when up to 1 inch fell along the Interstate 4 corridor. The panhandle, being further north, is more likely to see snow, but even here, the phenomenon is exceptional. Since 1886, there have been just over 80 documented instances of snowfall in the state, most of them minor and fleeting. Yet, the past two winters have rewritten the record books and given Floridians a taste of true winter weather—without the infrastructure or habits that come with it in colder climates.

For now, the snow has melted, and the cold is on its way out. But for those who stayed up late or woke early to witness the rare event, the memories—and the photos—will last much longer than the fleeting dusting itself. As the National Weather Service and local meteorologists continue to monitor the shifting patterns that brought snow to the Gulf Coast two years running, residents can only wonder: will next winter bring yet another surprise?