This Part of Florida Could See Snow for the First Time in 16 Years as Temperatures Threaten Record Lows

More snow could be possible in Florida as frigid air settles into the region — and some areas may even challenge local temperature records.

Freeze warnings and cold weather advisories were issued for parts of the state on the morning of Thursday, Jan. 29, according to ABC affiliate WWSB.

Another arctic front is expected to push into the Sunshine State on Saturday, Jan. 31, bringing colder air and gusty conditions, according to The Weather Channel.

For much of Florida, the coldest stretch of the season is forecast from Saturday night into Sunday morning, Feb. 1, according to a post on X from the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Jacksonville.

Forecasters have also issued an extreme cold watch, warning that overnight lows could drop into the teens and 20s, with wind chills potentially falling to 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Those readings could set records in some locations.

In Central Florida, Orlando could see its coldest temperatures in 16 years, with Sunday morning lows projected between 26 and 29 degrees, according to NBC affiliate WESH. The city’s record is 28 degrees.

Snow chances remain low, but flurries aren’t ruled out

While widespread snowfall is not expected, forecasters say a few parts of the state could see flurries.

Along Florida’s west coast, NWS Tampa Bay said in a post on X there is a 10% to 20% chance of snow flurries near the coast late Saturday night into Sunday morning.

The best chance of frozen precipitation is expected from Citrus County through Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, according to a forecast discussion from the weather office. Even so, forecasters stressed the odds are slim.

“This is a low probability event,” they said, adding that in setups like this, drizzle or very light rain can sometimes be mistaken for snow “when in fact surface temperatures don’t support that possibility.”

The last time snow affected the Tampa area was Jan. 9, 2010, according to NWS Tampa. This time, any snow that does fall is not expected to accumulate.

Northern and central Florida could see additional wintry impacts

A possible “bomb cyclone” expected to develop off the Georgia coast could also help generate snow in parts of northern Florida this weekend, according to WWSB.

WWSB forecasters said Sarasota and Manatee counties have about a 10% chance of snow early Sunday morning.

On the east coast, WESH said winter-weather odds along the Palm Coast and down toward Daytona Beach range from 20% to 40%.