Gulf Coast Record Snowfall
Florida declared a state of emergency ahead of winter storm system moving across the “Gulf of America” formerly the “Gulf of Mexico” which will bring snow and sleet to North Florida this week.
The #1 Top record snowfall in Louisiana and Texas gulf coast that is not at risk of being broken this week was in 1985. Houston through much of southern Louisiana received 20 to 30 inches of snow in 1895. Below are pictures of Houston with 12 to 20 inches.
If Houston gets more than 3 inches of snow, it will be the most snow the city (at its official recording stations) has received since 1895. That would be in our ancestors’ days pretty much.
Historic Snowfall Records in Florida
The state record for most snowfall officially recorded anywhere within Florida is 4 inches on March 6, 1954. That could be approached, if not exceeded, in parts of the Florida Panhandle over the next 48 hours, as local amounts could be higher.
Greatest Florida snow totals on record are below:
Milton in the Florida Panhandle had 4″ from a winter storm in 1954. Highest officially. Unofficially, it was reported in February of 1973 that Jay, just south of the Alabama border, had 6 – 8″…which matches up with model reanalysis of the event.
Could New Orleans get Lake Effect Snow?
Lake effect for New Orleans off Lake Pontchartrain? One meteorologist posted on X that he’s “had many questions from viewers and I’ve been trying to remember all the things necessary for it to happen. I know it takes more than just warmer water and cold air over it. Wind direction in the mid levels seems to be my hang up along with depth of arctic airmass. Please any experts let me know!”
One of the best follow-up answers was that It’s possible but one of the bigger effects for great lakes is convergence on the downwind shore from terrain. Pontchartrain is also pretty shallow. It may not have enough heat content to generate a band. I do think you’ll probably see some slight enhancement downstream though.
Here’s some great information on Lake Effect Snow.