Additional Coverage:
Tallahassee, Florida braced for its most significant winter weather since 1989. Airports closed and officials urged residents in the western Panhandle to avoid travel.
Pensacola saw significant snowfall, with reports of 5 to 12 inches, leading to the closure of a 70-mile stretch of Interstate 10. The National Weather Service issued Winter Storm Warnings for counties from Pensacola to Jacksonville.
Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency, noting the potential for record-breaking snowfall in the Panhandle. Previous records were shattered as snowfall totals exceeded the previous all-time high of 4 inches set in Milton in 1954.
The heavy snow caused numerous accidents and hazardous road conditions. While some roads were pre-treated, the efforts proved insufficient.
Official measurements confirmed over 7.6 inches of snow in Pensacola and nearly 9 inches in nearby Milton. The National Weather Service anticipates it will take several days to verify all reports and determine the highest official snowfall total.
The storm caused widespread disruptions. Schools and universities, including Florida State University, FAMU, the University of North Florida and the University of Florida, cancelled classes.
Flights were cancelled at Tallahassee International Airport and Jacksonville International Airport. The lack of snow removal equipment in the region posed a significant challenge.
This winter storm is being compared to the Christmas week snowstorm of 1989, a benchmark winter event for the Southeast. That storm brought significant snow to the region, causing power outages and crop damage.