A driveway in northeast Tallahassee under 3″ of snow and sleet following a night of continuous precipitation, January 22, 2025
In our great Sunshine State, snowfall is almost unheard of – but almost 10” of snow is completely unprecedented. Yet that’s exactly what happened when record snowfall touched down across the Florida panhandle early last week, leaving residents stunned and slowing many cities and localities to a standstill. Tallahassee area schools and universities were closed for three days, many roads were shut down and the Governor even issued a state of emergency for most of North Florida. For some, including outdoor wholesale nurseries in North Florida and South Georgia, the snow proved to be damaging, wiping out millions of dollars in plants even underneath shades and greenhouses. The overall damage is still being tallied. But while some tried to shake the frost and get infrastructure back online, for a few days Floridians rejoiced in the foreign concept of a relaxing snow day.
Icicles hanging from roofs were plentiful!
Videos popped up over social media with people of all ages enjoying the fresh powder –from Pensacola to Tallahassee, it seemed like everyone found the nearest hill and started sledding – some with sand boogie boards. Residents of Milton woke up to 9.8” of snow on the ground, shattering the previous record of 4” set all the way back in 1954 – and for a brief moment, north Florida was frozen in time. Snowmen sprouted up along the streets and snowball fights erupted under palm trees. Countless Floridians saw their first snow and looked up to the sky with wonder. Streets and cars were covered under a soft white blanket, and many took to shoveling driveways and scraping car windshields: while a staple of northern U.S. living, this was truly a once in a lifetime occurrence for the locals!
A melting snowman in downtown Tallahassee, 3 days after the snowstorm, January 25, 2025
Perhaps that is the magic of the snow day – the gentle disruption of the daily routine and the beauty in these fleeing moments that will melt away like the snowflakes. It’s finding yourself in a strange, snowy world that feels like you were whisked away to another time and place entirely. The incredible imagery of Florida’s semi tropical landscapes piled high with snow is something that will make you stop and scratch your head and realize the impermanence of both problems and playtime. And maybe, just smile.
But soon enough, the polar vortex will make its way out of Florida, the snow will melt away and things will start to thaw back to their regularly scheduled programming. The kids will go back to school today (Monday, January 27), adults back to work and the roads and cars will carry everyone where they need to go just like they did mere days before. But everyone will no doubt keep the memory of the historic snowfall in their hearts for years and years to come, because if nothing else, it let us all take a break from the hustle and bustle, finding warmth with friends and family and comradery with strangers. Truly a little bit of late Christmas magic, reminding us to soak up the snowfall and the sunshine alike.
See you on the snow & sand trail!
Lisa
LMA Newsletter of 1-27-25
