Lazaro Aleman reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com
An extremely slim chance exists that snow, or a semblance of the white powdery stuff, may fall in Florida in this coming week, making for a first in more than a decade, according to some meteorologists. Most forecasters don’t expect snow to fall in the Sunshine State as a consequence of the arctic blast that’s predicted to impact the Southeast this week. A few experts, however, believe that Floridians could possibly see some snowflakes, if the right conditions prevail. "If the blast is intense enough during the second week of January, then it’s possible that some people in Florida may see some snowflakes," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Michael Doll is quoted saying in USA Today. A cold front moved through the region on Friday, Jan. 3, resulting in a rapid, if brief, drop in temperature that lasted into Saturday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). This front is expected to be followed by a second, stronger cold snap that was expected to sweep through the region starting on Monday and dropping temperatures into the 20s. “It is possible that some of the coldest temperatures to date could be experienced if this were to fully materialize and follow current model trends,” USA Today quotes the NWS predicting. This second front will potentially cause temperatures in some areas in the northern part of the state to dip even into the teens, which, in combination with a low-pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico, could result in enough moisture to create snow, according to meteorologists. They add the caveat, however, that weather conditions could still change before the middle of the week, making their snow predictions a moot point. Regardless, the coming polar vortex is expected to deliver the coldest air of the season to date, according to the NWS. The NWS describes a polar vortex as a large area of low pressure and cold air that can expand during the winter months, sending cold air southward with the jet stream.