The following is a summary of the all-time greatest snowstorms to have been observed in the Gulf and Deep South Region.

JANUARY 9-11, 1800: Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina

The single greatest snow accumulations ever reported from Florida to coastal Georgia and coastal South Carolina occurred on January 9-11 some 211 years ago in 1800. A survey party demarcating the border between Florida and Georgia was encamped at the mouth of St. Mary’s River near where Ft. Clinch State Park is now just north of the current site of Jacksonville, Florida. They reported heavy snow most of the day and night of January 10th and awoke to 5” of snow cover. More may have actually fallen and melted prior to sunrise on the 11th when they made their observation. In and around Savannah, Georgia 18” of snow fell with drifts up to 3-feet. Here the snow fell continuously for a 36-hour period from late evening January 9th until early morning January 11th. In Charleston, South Carolina, the State Gazette reported 8” of snow on level with severe drifting and gales. It would appear that Charleston was on the northern edge of the heaviest accumulations which were centered around Savannah. (For more about this event see Early American Winters: 1604-1820 pp. 159-160, by David M. Ludlum, American Meteorological Society, Boston, 1966).


snip


Aside from the snow event of 1800 readers might be curious as to what the modern snowfall records are for Florida. The greatest ‘statewide’ snowfall occurred during the famous East Coast blizzard and cold wave of February 1899 (the same event that brought sub-zero temperatures to Florida for the first and only time). On February 13th, 1899 snow flakes were observed as far south as Fort Meyers and a general 1”+ accumulation occurred statewide north of Gainesville. Jacksonville recorded its greatest modern accumulation of 1.9”, 2.1” was measured at Pensacola, and up to 6” was anecdotally reported near the Georgia border in northwest Florida. The highest official amount was 3.5” at Haywood.

The furthest south snow flakes have been reported is at Homestead (south of Miami 25° 18’ N) on January 19, 1977. The deepest snowfall officially measured in the state is 4.0” at Milton Experimental Station in the NW corner on March 6, 1954.

Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
316 PM EST Tue Jan 2 2018


FLZ020>024-030-035-GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-031000-
/O.UPG.KJAX.WS.A.0001.180103T0700Z-180103T2200Z/
/O.NEW.KJAX.WS.W.0001.180103T0900Z-180103T2200Z/
/O.NEW.KJAX.WC.Y.0002.180103T0600Z-180104T1400Z/
Hamilton-Suwannee-Columbia-Baker-Inland Nassau-Union-Gilchrist-
Coffee-Jeff Davis-Bacon-Appling-Wayne-Atkinson-Ware-Pierce-
Brantley-Inland Glynn-Coastal Glynn-Echols-Clinch-Charlton-
Inland Camden-Coastal Camden-
Including the cities of Jasper, Jennings, West Lake, Belmont,
White Springs, Houston, Live Oak, McAlpin, Newburn,
Suwannee Springs, Columbia, Lake City, Oleno State Park, Lulu,
Watertown, Macclenny, Olustee, Ratliff, Hilliard, Kings Ferry,
Bryceville, Lake Butler, Trenton, Douglas, Hazlehurst, Alma,
New Lacy, Baxley, Pine Grove, Plant Hatch, Doctortown, Gardi,
Jesup, Axson, Pearson, Willacoochee, Needham, Waycross,
Blackshear, Atkinson, Hickox, Hortense, Nahunta, Raybon,
Waynesville, Hoboken, Thalmann, Jekyll Island, Glynn Haven,
Sea Island, St. Simons, Country Club Estate, Dock Junction,
Needmore, Statenville, Homerville, Folkston, St. George, Winokur,
Homeland, Race Pond, Stephen Foster State Park, Colesburg,
Tarboro, Waverly, Woodbine, Dover Bluff, Kingsland, and Dungeness
316 PM EST Tue Jan 2 2018

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM WEDNESDAY TO 9 AM EST
THURSDAY...
...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 5 PM EST
WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy mixed precipitation expected. Very cold wind
chills expected. Power outages and tree damage are likely due
to the ice. Travel will be dangerous and nearly impossible,
including during the morning commute on Wednesday. Total snow
accumulations of up to 3 inches and ice accumulations of one
tenth to one half of an inch are expected. Expect wind chills
to range from 30 above zero to 10 above zero.

* WHERE...Portions of northeast Florida, northern Florida and
southeast Georgia.

* WHEN...For the Winter Storm Warning, 4 AM Wednesday to 5 PM
Wednesday. The heaviest snowfall rates and greatest ice
accumulation will occur between 7 AM and 1 PM Wednesday. For
the Wind Chill Advisory, 1 AM Wednesday and 9 AM Thursday. The
coldest wind chills will occur around 6 AM Thursday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Look for significant reductions in
visibility at times. The cold wind chills will cause frostbite
in as little as 30 minutes to exposed skin.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning means significant amounts of snow, sleet
and ice are expected. This will make travel very hazardous or
impossible. The latest road conditions for the state you are
calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

A Wind Chill Advisory means that cold air and the wind will
combine to create low wind chills. Frost bite and hypothermia can
occur if precautions are not taken. Make sure you wear a hat and
gloves.

&&

$$