The occurrence of snow in Jacksonville, Florida, is an exceptional meteorological event, making any instance a point of historical documentation for the region. Located in Northeast Florida, the city’s humid subtropical climate means that conditions necessary for snowfall rarely align. An appearance of snow requires a specific and powerful convergence of atmospheric factors that temporarily overcome the region’s generally mild winter temperatures.
The Defining Snowfall Events
The most impactful and widely remembered instance of accumulating snow in Jacksonville occurred on December 23, 1989. An arctic high-pressure system plunged deep into the state, bringing temperatures down into the 20s. The airport weather station measured 0.8 inches of snow, while areas closer to the coast, such as Jacksonville Beach, reported up to 2.5 inches. This event was particularly disruptive because it was preceded by hours of freezing rain and sleet, which coated bridges and roads in ice, effectively shutting down travel just before Christmas.
While the 1989 event is the most recent major snowfall, the all-time record for accumulation was set nearly a century earlier. Official records show that on February 13, 1899, Jacksonville received 1.9 inches of snow. Another notable event occurred on February 13, 1958, which produced 1.5 inches of snow, a total that held the one-day record for decades.
Trace Snowfall and Flurries
Beyond the major accumulating events, Jacksonville has experienced several instances of trace snow and flurries that did not lead to ground accumulation. A recent example occurred on January 3, 2018, when a rare winter storm tracked along the Atlantic coast. This system brought a mix of sleet and light snow flurries to the city, though no measurable snow was officially recorded at the airport. The precipitation fell as a wintry mix over Northeast Florida, with the snow melting before it could settle on most surfaces.
Such trace events are usually brief and localized, often occurring when the precipitation is light and the ground temperature is slightly above freezing. These flurries are often observed on the coldest days when a strong cold air mass is in place, but the required moisture is minimal or short-lived.
Why Snow Is So Uncommon in Jacksonville
Snow is uncommon in Jacksonville primarily because of the city’s geographical location and climate dynamics. The region has a humid subtropical climate, meaning winter high temperatures typically remain in the mid-60s with average lows in the mid-40s. For snow to form and reach the ground, the entire column of air from the cloud base to the surface must be at or below freezing, a condition known as a deep column of cold air.
The proximity of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico significantly moderates temperatures, preventing the sustained, deep cold required for snowfall. When Arctic air masses push far enough south into Florida, they often arrive with little moisture, or a warm layer of air exists aloft. This upper-level warm layer melts the snow into rain or sleet as it falls, preventing the formation of snow at the surface. The simultaneous alignment of a deep, frigid air mass and sufficient atmospheric moisture is an infrequent occurrence in Northeast Florida.