In 1977 it snowed in Miami. The tourist were not happy.
1977
The residents of northern Florida around Pensacola were the first to see snow fall on the Sunshine State, receiving 1-2 inches (2.5-5.0 cm) on January 18. Frigid, gusty northwest winds of 40-45 mph (64-72 km/h) pushed the line of falling snow southward, so that by the end of the day, every weather station in north and central Florida had echoed the word: Snow. Tampa recorded its greatest accumulation to date: 0.2 inches (0.5 cm). Plant City measured nearly two inches (five cm) on the ground, and Orlando, Daytona Beach and Vero Beach confirmed falling snow or snow on the ground.
Overnight, the cold and snow continued marching ever southward. On Wednesday, January 19 at 6:10 AM, West Palm Beach reported snow falling for the first time on record. An hour later, the Miami area weather forecast was amended to include the likelihood of snow mixed with rain. This was the first forecast for snow ever issued for the city.
For most of Greater Miami, the forecast was on the mark. From 8:30 to 9:00 AM, snow reports emanated from the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport in Broward County. Homestead, 23 miles (37 km) southwest of Miami in southern Dade County (latitude 25 deg, 30 minutes), reported snow falling. While observers at Miami International Airport never officially reported snow, radar picked up echos of snow falling around the city, and there were numerous public sightings of the unusual precipitation, including some from Miami Beach.
The fine granular snow crystals dusted the palms and baptised the ground with white water, but they soon melted. Most children, and many adults, had never seen snow before -- at least not live and in concert. "They were ecstatic, running around with their tongues out, trying to catch the snow in their mouths," commented Wilton Manors Elementary School principal, Mary Crum.
The snow and cold continued to move southeastward, bringing snow mixed with cold rain to Freeport in the Bahamas. Within a couple of days, weather conditions returned to near normal in south Florida.
...I want SNOW like that here...but these folks down here...they panic with a light dusting in the GRASS!! LOL
