It’s an unusual snow day in Florida, the famous Sunshine State, where a new snowfall record has been officially established.

Wednesday morning saw North Florida blanketed in snow, with Milton recording an astounding 9.8 inches. This beats the previous Panhandle record of four inches, set back in 1993.

Temperatures dipped into the upper 20s in Tallahassee on Wednesday morning. Snow began to fall in Pensacola on Tuesday afternoon, though it was too warm to snow further south in the Bay or Central Florida regions. 

Locally, the chill persists with cooler temperatures.

Due to the wintry conditions, school districts in the northern part of the state, including Florida State University and Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, closed for the day. The University of Florida in Gainesville canceled classes on Tuesday but planned to resume them Wednesday afternoon.

Snow started in Tallahassee around 5 p.m. on Tuesday and continued throughout the night, leaving roads and cars frozen but creating memorable moments.

The storm dumped 2 to 3 inches of snow in the Tallahassee area, leaving both positive and challenging impacts.

Jay Gray from New Port Richey took his children, 12-year-old Kathan and 14-year-old Cecilia, to experience their first snowfall in the Panhandle. “When we told them they were going to get a chance to see snow, they were ecstatic,” Gray shared, noting the excitement made the long drive worthwhile.

Although the snow is expected to melt by later Wednesday in the Florida Panhandle, the memory of this rare event will remain indelible for those who experienced it.

However, travel overnight into early Wednesday was tough. With closures of schools and some businesses, officials advised residents to avoid driving until conditions improved and the ice began to thaw.

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(Image credit: WTVT)