Cold wave of January 1977

Cold wave of January 1977

A weather map on January 19, 1977 showing the high-pressure system impacting Florida
Type	Cold wave and snowfall
Formed	January 16, 1977
Dissipated	January 21, 1977
Maximum snowfall or ice accretion	2 inches (51 mm) along Interstate 4 between Tampa and Orlando
Damage	$2 billion (1977 US$)
Total fatalities	1 indirect
Areas affected	Florida, The Bahamas

The Cold wave of January 1977 produced the only known trace of snow in the greater Miami area of Florida ever reported (though no snow was reported in the city of Miami). It occurred following the passage of a strong cold front, in combination with a high-pressure area situated over the Mississippi River Valley. As a result, cold air spewed across Florida, causing both snow flurries and record low temperatures. Most notably, the weather system brought snow flurries as far south as Homestead on January 19. Although other portions of the state have since experienced snowfall, no snow had ever been reported in south Florida before or since. Damage was most significant to agriculture, as major losses occurred to Citrus fruits and tender vegetables. Statewide, agricultural damage from the cold wave totaled to $350 million (1977 USD), and losses overall totaled to $2 billion (1977 USD). One fatality occurred due to an automobile accident in Central Florida, which was related to the cold wave.

Beginning on January 16, a strong arctic cold front began crossing the state of Florida. Two days later, another cold front crossed Florida, while a strong arctic high-pressure system over the Mississippi River Valley also began pushing cold air into Florida. Simultaneously, an upper-level trough associated with the second cold front contained a band of clouds and precipitation. Between 8 and 9:30 am, snow flurries were reported in many areas across south Florida, including Miami. It was reported that people stopped their cars and emerged from their homes to see the snow in great numbers, many having never seen snow flurries in their lifetimes. That day the high only reached 47 F in Miami. The associated cold air began to subside on January 21.

It is noted that while the January 18–19 cold front was crossing Florida, every weather recording station in North and Central Florida recorded at least a trace of snow (a trace is below a measureable amount, but enough to be visible). Further south, 0.2 inches (0.51 cm) flurries were seen in the air and on the ground a trace was reported at both Tampa and Plant City. West Palm Beach reported its first snowfall starting at 1010 UTC (5:10 a.m. EST) on January 19, and lasted for 1 hours and 20 minutes, ending at 1200 UTC (7 a.m. EST). Simultaneously, snow flurries began falling in Broward and Dade counties; it was the first time snow had ever been observed at Miami. At Homestead, a mix of light rain and wet snow flurries fell briefly at the Homestead Air Force Base, and is regarded as the southernmost location of snowfall in the Contiguous United States. Prior to this event, the southernmost snow record was in Fort Myers in February 1899. Florida radio stations played Christmas carols as a result of the snowfall. Additionally, wet snow flurries was reported at Freeport, Bahamas on Grand Bahama, making the only known snowfall in the 358-year history of The Bahamas.