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East Coast Snow Storm Exits Coast With 20″+; Even Florida Got Snow

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Heavy snow fell on the east coast; here's the latest storm totals through 9 am today. Image: NWS
Heavy snow fell on the east coast; here’s the latest storm totals through 9 am today. Image: NWS

A major winter storm has departed the east coast but not before dropping more than 20″ of snow at the coast; even central Florida saw some snow. In the wake of the storm, very cold air will bleed across the eastern part of the country.

The storm center is over the ocean now, taking the shape of a  powerful hurricane force cyclone which is continuing to strengthen across the Northwest Atlantic between Bermuda and the Northeast U.S. as it slides into the Canadian Maritimes into Monday. In the wake of the intense cyclone, bitterly cold air continues to shatter record temperatures across the Southeast and through the Florida Peninsula this morning. Temperatures this cold have not been experienced across southern Florida since the record cold month of December 1989. Extreme cold warnings are in effect across much of the Southeast all the way down toward southern Florida where Freeze Warnings and Cold Weather Advisories are in effect.

“Bundle up and cover your mouth if you are outside, ensure pets and animals have protection from the cold, and continue to take steps to prevent frozen pipes,” the National Weather Service advises. “A gradual moderating trend is forecast for the eastern U.S. through the next couple of days but record temperatures will exist across much of Florida through Monday into early Tuesday,” they add.

Snow flurries were reported far south along the Florida Gulf Coast. Image: NWS
Snow flurries were reported far south along the Florida Gulf Coast. Image: NWS

With the storm gone, people are left to dig out.  Accumulating fell as far south as Savanah, Georgia but the heaviest fell across northeastern South Carolina and eastern North Carolina where up to 18-24″ of snow fell. Accumulating snow reached as far north as Virginia Beach.

And while there were no accumulations, snow was also observed falling across places that rarely see snow in Florida as Arctic air moved in behind the storm. While snow showers fell in Jacksonville in northeastern Florida, flurries were also reported far south along the Gulf Coast. Tampa, Clearwater, Sarasota, Port Charlotte, and  Cape Coral were among the many towns that reported flurries in the wake of the core storm.