Will it snow in Florida on Christmas? Where will the frost be? Can you still do Disney?

Howard Cohen

It’s going to be cold for Christmas in Florida.

But if you’re dreaming of a white one, fly to New York, New Hampshire, Maine or one of 13 other regions or states that have snow in their forecasts, according to Accuweather, USA Today reported.

Consolation?

Miami is likely going to hit the Top 3 for coldest forecast high. No repeat of January 1977, when some shivering folks in Miami scraped a dusting of snow off of their car windshields.

On Thursday, the National Weather Service in Miami forecast 56 degrees as a high on Christmas Day in Miami, with a low of 47 on Christmas Eve leading into Sunday, and a low of 51 Sunday night).

READ MORE: A wind chill advisory issued for Miami and the rest of Florida. How cold will you feel?

It snowed in Haines City in Central Florida, Jan. 18, 1977, and there were flurries in Miami a day later. Though it will dip into the 20s in Florida’s Panhandle on Christmas Day 2022 don’t expect a repeat of 1977.
It snowed in Haines City in Central Florida, Jan. 18, 1977, and there were flurries in Miami a day later. Though it will dip into the 20s in Florida’s Panhandle on Christmas Day 2022 don’t expect a repeat of 1977.

If nature delivers, it will rank No. 3 behind 1983 when the Christmas high was 51 degrees and 1906 and 1909 when it was 55, according to Brian McNoldy, senior research associate at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School.

Shelter plan

Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust announced on Thursday it has activated its cold weather emergency plan to open shelters and beds for the coming cold snap Friday night into the weekend. Members of the county’s outreach service plan to hit the streets and bring those that they find who are in need of shelter from the cold inside. The plan activates when temperatures are forecast to hit 50 and below.

If you are worried about someone that you know may be on the streets in Miami-Dade during this coming cold snap who will have no shelter, call 877-994-4357‬ to report the situation.

Broward County also activated its plan to open shelters and will distribute blankets to those experiencing homelessness.

Cold weather shelters in Broward will be open 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. Dec. 23-24 at Hope South Florida, 1100 N. Andrews Ave. in Fort Lauderdale and The Salvation Army, 1445 Broward Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Call the Homeless Helpline at 954-563-4357 or visit the Homeless Services website for details.

Why no snow in Florida?

READ MORE: How cold will Florida feel? Will you get the 20s, 30s or 40s? What the forecast says

Temperatures in places like Gainesville and Tallahassee will see 22 degree lows — 10 degrees below freezing. But it won’t snow because there is no rain in the forecast, just clear skies.

File photo from Feb. 10, 2010, in Bucharest, Romania. Florida won’t see snow on Christmas 2022 but some parts of the state will see temperatures in the 20s so plenty of pooches may feel like this dog did.
File photo from Feb. 10, 2010, in Bucharest, Romania. Florida won’t see snow on Christmas 2022 but some parts of the state will see temperatures in the 20s so plenty of pooches may feel like this dog did.

What about frost?

Hard frost warnings are up for the Panhandle and freeze warnings in effect in Central Florida, including Orlando, on Friday and Saturday.

Florida attractions close

Disney may call a water park Blizzard Beach, but when temperatures dip to feel like a blizzard, don’t expect to slip and slide in the water this holiday weekend. Disney announced late Wednesday that its water park will be closed from Dec. 23-25. The park will reopen on Monday, Dec. 25, if the weather is warm enough.

Universal’s Volcano Bay also will be closed Dec. 23-25 due to the cold weather, the park said.

The main Disney and Universal theme parks are open.

Thunderstorm warning

Before the big chill, isolated to severe thunderstorms, with the possibility of a tornado, are possible in South Florida Thursday evening, especially north of Alligator Alley, the weather service said in an advisory. The strongest storms would be in Southwest Florida, including Naples.

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