Rare Gulf-effect snow could bring snow flurries to South Florida

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Areas from the Florida panhandle all the way down to the Fort Myers/Naples area could see snowflakes, though the chance is very low. A process similar to lake-effect snow, something called Gulf-effect snow, could produce narrow bands of light snow in this uncommon setup.

Why it matters

Snowfall is an extremely rare occurrence in South Florida, with Tampa only recording measurable snow twice in its history and Naples never recording any measurable snow. This Gulf-effect snow event highlights the unusual nature of the incoming cold weather system and the potential for rare weather phenomena in the region.

The details

The nor'easter that is expected to impact several states along the East Coast this weekend is also setting the stage for a wave of unusually cold air that will reach deep into South Florida. On Saturday night, lingering moisture from the storm could mix with the bitter cold air and potentially create some flurries or a rain/snow mix along the Gulf Coast. For this to happen, there needs to be a long fetch of northwest winds picking up moisture, combined with a big enough difference between the water temperature and the cold air above.

• On Saturday night, lingering moisture from the storm could mix with the bitter cold air.
• Late Saturday night and into Sunday morning, there is a 10 to 20% chance of snow flurries along the coast.