Snow In Panhandle
Is winter truly relinquishing its icy grip? Across the nation, from the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles to the heart of Florida, a tempestuous dance of snow and ice has unfolded, leaving communities grappling with the unpredictable whims of the weather.
The weather forecast office at weather.gov paints a vivid picture of the current hazards across the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, extending its purview to encompass the surrounding areas. The forecast highlights that the Florida panhandle's best shot at experiencing a snowfall was between Tuesday and Thursday. Temperatures were predicted to hover just below freezing, with the probability of precipitation gradually increasing. In the heart of the action, the heaviest snowfall concentrated in the central and western regions of the Texas panhandle.
Amarillo bore the brunt of the storm, receiving 2.2 inches of snow, while a mere trace was observed as far east as Canadian. In the Oklahoma panhandle, Boise City recorded the highest snowfall, measuring 2.0 inches. Echoes of a similar event could be traced back to May 4, 1933, when Vega, Texas, experienced 3.0 inches of snow.
The extreme western reaches of the Oklahoma panhandle also witnessed a dusting, although a trace was reported as far south as Stratford, Texas. Snow totals, measured in inches, revealed the heaviest bands commencing in the panhandle, extending into northern Ware and Glenn counties of Georgia. Southeast Georgia, particularly areas along and north of Waycross, faced a moderate chance (40%) of wintry precipitation.
Later on Tuesday and into Wednesday, the Florida panhandle was anticipating a potential accumulation of a few inches of snow. Simultaneously, a blend of wintry precipitation was possible as far south as Gainesville, although the Tampa Bay area was expected to remain untouched by the white stuff. All eyes were glued on Florida, where snow was indeed falling as a winter storm relentlessly marched across the Gulf Coast.
The western panhandle braced itself for 3 to 4 inches of snow, whereas the eastern panhandle was expected to receive a variable amount. This winter weather system traversing Florida was projected to unleash snow at rates of 1 inch per hour or more, stretching from eastern Texas to the western Florida panhandle. This phenomenon was projected to usher in historic snowfall, with accumulations of 3 to 6 inches.
Texas towns like Vega, Dalhart, and Stratford experienced a wintry mix, while communities adjacent to the U.S. Highway 87 border received a dusting of snow, as reported by the National Weather Service (NWS). Florida 511 traffic cameras documented snow falling in Escambia County, Florida panhandle, on Tuesday. In response, Escambia County urged its residents to stay home and avoid the roadways. The winter storm in Florida was anticipated to bring 3 to 6 inches of snow to certain panhandle regions, raising concerns about visibility and driving conditions. The western panhandle witnessed snow piling up.
Pensacola, within the Sunshine State, encountered the heaviest snowfall, with spotters measuring amounts ranging from 5 to 12 inches through Tuesday evening. The forecast suggested that 1 to 3 inches of snow might accumulate in the panhandle, with potential for icy conditions to develop eastward to the Suwannee River Valley. New Orleans, on Tuesday, surpassed its record with more than 9 inches (23 centimeters) of snow, far exceeding the previous high of 2.7 inches (6.8 centimeters) recorded on December 31, 1963, according to historical records.
The storm's impact resulted in over 5,200 flight cancellations. A cold front sweeping across Texas was projected to bring up to 9 inches of snow to the Texas panhandle, along with severe storms and a significant temperature drop in Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin.
The National Weather Service Amarillo office projected that Texas panhandle cities, including Amarillo, could anticipate snow accumulation of 1 to 5 inches on the evening of Friday, March 7. The Tampa Bay area was expected to experience cold rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, with another chance of showers on Thursday.
Authorities urged residents to avoid the roads. The city of Milton, Santa Rosa County, in the western panhandle, recorded 10 inches of snow. Local news outlets, like Channel 9 Eyewitness News, broadcast live updates. Pensacola, situated along the Gulf Coast, witnessed 9 inches of snow. The weather service in Tallahassee, Florida, which covers southeast Alabama and the Florida panhandle and southern Georgia, indicated that it was premature to pinpoint specific precipitation amounts.
| Region | Observed Snowfall (Inches) | Key Observations |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Panhandle (Central & Western) | Heaviest | Amarillo: 2.2, Vega (May 4, 1933): 3.0 |
| Oklahoma Panhandle | Up to 2.0 (Boise City) | Extreme western areas |
| Florida Panhandle (Western) | 5-12 (Pensacola) | Milton (Santa Rosa County): 10 |
| Florida Panhandle (Eastern) | Forecast: 1-3 | Potential for icy conditions. |
| Georgia (Northern Ware & Glenn Counties) | Heaviest bands | Areas along and north of Waycross: medium chance (40%) |
| New Orleans | Over 9 (23 centimeters) | Surpassed record of 2.7 inches (Dec 31, 1963). |
The information provided in this article is based on the reports from various weather services and observations from different regions. The severity of the winter weather varied across these regions. Here is a table summarizing the key takeaways.
