Welcome back to Meteorology Matters.
I'm your host and boy oh boy,
do we have a wild one to unpack today.
I think wild is an understatement.
Yeah, you're probably right about that.
We're talking about the absolutely crazy weather
that just slammed the Gulf Coast and the South.
This January was one for the record books, that's for sure.
You got that right.
We're talking snow folks and a lot of it
in places that rarely even see a flurry,
let alone accumulations measured in inches.
It was a sight to see for sure.
It really was, imagine this,
snow covered beaches in Florida,
snowball fights breaking out on Bourbon Street
in New Orleans, it's the kind of stuff
that makes even us weather folks do a double take.
I know, I certainly did.
So to help us break down this meteorological madness,
I've got our expert right here with me.
Oh, he's glad to be here.
And yeah, madness is a pretty good word for it.
This is an event we'll be talking about for years to come.
I think you're right about that.
So let's start with the most jaw-dropping part
of this whole thing.
The sheer amount of snow that fell in places
that, well, just don't get snow.
I mean, Florida, the sunshine state,
buried under a blanket of white,
that's gotta be some kind of meteorological miracle, right?
It's definitely not your typical Florida weather,
that's for sure.
We're talking about snowfall totals that are, well,
unprecedented for the region.
For instance, take a look at Milton, Florida.
Okay, Milton, Florida, what happened there?
They recorded a whopping 9.8 inches of snow.
Wait, hold on, 9.8 inches in Florida.
You heard that right.
If that number's confirmed,
it would absolutely shatter the previous state record.
Then just to remind folks, what was that record?
A measly four inches set way back in 1954,
and don't even get me started on Pensacola.
Oh, what happened in Pensacola?
Almost nine inches there.
Obliterated their previous record.
It's unbelievable.
It really is.
It's one thing to talk about these numbers,
but seeing the pictures, that's when it really hits you.
Palm trees covered in snow,
folks bundled up in winter gear,
strolling down the beach.
It's like someone flipped the script on reality, you know?
You know it's bad when even the meteorologists
are speechless, and that's exactly what happens.
Speechless meteorologists.
Speechless, and it's not hard to see why.
We're talking about a state where most major cities,
they've never, not once, recorded a single snowflake
of measurable snowfall.
And I imagine places like the Keys,
well they haven't seen snow since what Pawnstall-Leone
was wandering around.
You're probably right.
This whole event is just off the charts, totally bonkers.
It shows you just how weird, how unusual, and powerful
this particular storm was.
So, all right, let's get down to brass tacks here.
What in the world caused this meteorological mayhem?
Was it just a random fluke of nature,
or is there a deeper explanation hiding
behind this blizzard in paradise?
Well, it's definitely not just a fluke.
To get this much snow, this far south, on the Gulf Coast,
you need a very, very specific and very rare set
of circumstances.
Things have to line up just right.
So, walk us through it.
What were the key ingredients, the things
that had to come together in just the right moment,
to brew up this winter wallop in a place where winter usually
means maybe a light jacket and a scarf
if you're really feeling chilly?
Okay, picture this.
You've got this strong polar vortex.
You know that swirling mass of citricold arctic air.
Right.
Imagine it extending way, way further south than usual,
like all the way down towards eastern North America.
Oh, wow.
And then at the same time, on the other side
of the continent, you've got this massive high-pressure
ridge just sitting over the West Coast,
stretching all the way up to Alaska.
A real atmospheric wall.
Exactly.
This combo, this unusual setup, it basically
created this pipeline in the atmosphere,
a direct route for all that bone-chilling arctic air
to flow straight south, right into the unsuspecting Gulf Coast.
Ah, so that explains the deep freeze that gripped the region.
But what about the snow itself?
How do we go from a cold snap to a full-blown blizzard,
especially in Florida?
Right.
So right as this massive wave of arctic air was settling in,
we get this, well, I guess you could
call it a little troublemaker, a smaller disturbance
decides to crash the party.
Oh, yeah.
It moves right over that Alaskan ridge and boom.
It forces the air to rise even faster, cooling it down
even more.
And what happens when you cool moisture?
Condensation, clouds.
Bingo.
And there you have it, precipitation over the Gulf Coast.
Except this wasn't rain.
Yep, snow, lots and lots of snow.
So it was this combination of the super chilled air,
thanks to the polar vortex, and this rogue disturbance that
really kicked things into overdrive.
Got it.
One two punch, right to the Gulf Coast.
But there's one more ingredient we
need to add to the mix here, and it might surprise you.
Well, lay it on me.
The Gulf of Mexico.
Yeah.
But isn't that known for its warm tropical waters?
How could that possibly contribute to a snowstorm?
And that, my friend, is where things get really interesting.
I'm all ears.
You see, the Gulf of Mexico, in January,
it was running unusually warm.
I'm talking several degrees above average.
That extra warmth, it pumped a ton of moisture into the air,
and all that moisture, it got sucked right
into our developing storm system.
So wait, you're telling me the warm, moist air from the Gulf
actually helped fuel the snowstorm?
Exactly.
It's a bit counterintuitive, isn't it?
But it's true.
The warm Gulf waters actually played a crucial role
in generating those massive snowfall totals.
It's like this crazy mix of opposites,
extreme cold and unusual warmth coming together
to create, well, meteorological chaos.
You said it.
It just shows you how interconnected everything
is in our atmosphere.
You never know what's going to happen when different weather
patterns collide.
And speaking of interconnectedness,
don't forget to follow me on Instagram at meteorologist
on TikTok at TV meteorologist and subscribe to my YouTube
channel at Rob Jones Hurricane, where you can also
find the Meteorology Matters podcast.
You know what?
That's a great point.
I'm always telling people how important it
is to stay up to date on the latest weather info.
And following you on social media is a fantastic way
to do that.
But getting back to this crazy blend of warm and cold
that fueled this storm, this whole thing
happened during a La Nina year, right?
That is correct.
And La Nina, well, isn't that typically associated
with the drier, milder winters?
Did that play any role in this unexpected snowstorm?
That's a great question.
While we can't draw a direct line between La Nina
and this specific snowstorm, the timing is certainly,
let's just say, interesting.
OK, I'm intrigued.
Tell me more.
Well, by January and a La Nina winter,
you typically see things drying out,
temperatures moderating a bit, especially along the Gulf Coast.
And yet, here we are talking about record breaking snow
in Florida.
So La Nina might not be the culprit,
but it certainly throws a wrench in the usual expectations
for a La Nina winter.
It does.
This whole event really shows how much variability there
can be in weather patterns, even when you think you've
got to handle on the bigger picture.
Absolutely.
So we've got this unusual La Nina situation.
We've got warm gulf waters fueling the snowstorm
instead of fighting it.
And we've got those mind blowing images of snow colliding
with the warm gulf waters in Louisiana,
snowball fights on Bourbon Street,
people skiing in New Orleans.
It's like something out of a dream or maybe a fever dream.
A meteorological fever dream, that's for sure.
And all those incredible scenes, it
was that warm gulf, despite its role in fueling the storm,
that ultimately made them possible.
That's right.
Even though the warm gulf waters help generate all that snow,
they just couldn't overcome the sheer force
of that arctic blast.
Nope, they couldn't.
Mother nature, she's got a few tricks up her sleeve,
that's for sure.
Speaking of mother nature, this whole thing begs the question,
does this crazy snowstorm, in a place famous for its warmth,
does it tell us anything about climate change?
Is this a sign of things to come, a glimpse
into a future where the unexpected becomes the norm?
Ah, now that's the million dollar question, isn't it?
And it's one we'll definitely be exploring in more depth
as we continue our meteorological deep dive.
So stay tuned.
We'll be right back after a quick break.
Welcome back to Meteorology Matters.
You know, before the break, we were talking
about the Gulf of Mexico and its role in this whole storm.
And I still can't get over the fact
that warm water actually helped create all that snow.
Yeah, it's a real headscratcher, isn't it?
Yeah.
You'd think that warm gulf would have put up
a bit more of a fight, you know, tried to push back
against the cold a little.
You would, wouldn't you?
But sometimes, mother nature just
likes to throw us a curveball.
In this case, the atmosphere had a totally different plan.
So I guess what I'm still not getting is,
how did those warm gulf waters actually end up fueling the snow?
It just doesn't seem to make sense.
So think of it this way.
Those unusually warm waters, they
were like a giant humidifier, just pumping tons and tons
of water vapor up into the air.
So you've got this super moist air mass just hanging out
over the gulf.
Now along comes this massive blast of frigid Arctic air.
And when that dry, cold air slams into all that warm, moist air
from the gulf, well, let's just say
it's not a happy meeting.
Like mixing oil and water.
Exactly.
It's like throwing gasoline on a fire, metaphorically speaking,
of course.
Oh, I see.
So it's that clash, that collision of air masses
that really ramped up the snowfall,
the warm, moist air from the gulf.
It was like the fuel that kept the snow machine running.
You got it.
It's a reminder that even in a snowstorm,
you can't underestimate the role of warmth.
It might seem counterintuitive, but it's
a key piece of the puzzle.
It really is.
This whole event just highlights how complex,
how interconnected our weather systems really are.
Everything plays a part, even things
that seem like they shouldn't.
It's true.
This storm, it was a perfect example
of how all the seemingly random factors, things happening
thousands of miles apart, can come together
in just the right way to create something totally
extraordinary, totally unexpected.
Speaking of extraordinary, let's shift gears a bit
and talk about the impact this storm had, especially
on Florida.
Those snowfall totals were mind-boggling.
I mean, 9.8 inches near Milton.
I've seen places get less snow in a whole winter.
I know, right?
It's just hard to wrap your head around that much snow
falling in a place that's practically synonymous
with sunshine and beaches.
And remember, that 9.8 inches in Milton, if it's confirmed,
it'll be more than double the previous state record.
More than double.
Wow.
That really shows just how intense, how powerful
this storm was.
It really does.
And keep in mind, we're talking about Florida here,
a state where most big cities, they've never even
seen a dusting of snow.
It makes you wonder what folks down there were thinking,
waking up to a winter wonderland outside their windows.
I bet there were a lot of surprised faces that morning.
Can you imagine stepping outside your door
and seeing snow blanketing your palm trees?
Like something out of a holiday movie,
but not the kind you'd expect to see in Florida.
It's almost like Mother Nature decided
to play a little joke, you know?
Switch things up just to see what would happen.
Maybe she did.
But while Florida might be getting all the attention,
let's not forget about Louisiana, another state that's
definitely not known for its winter weather.
That's right.
New Orleans, the big easy.
A city that's practically built on good times and warm weather,
suddenly transformed into a scene from a snow globe.
It's true.
New Orleans, a city that conjures up images of Mardi Gras
parades and jazz music, suddenly got a taste of a true winter.
I saw some photos online.
Snow covered balconies overlooking Bourbon Street.
People building snowmen in Jackson Square.
It's just hard to picture those images and think
New Orleans at the same time.
Yeah, it's a real contrast.
But it just goes to show this storm system,
it didn't discriminate.
Even the heart of Louisiana, a place where snow is about
as rare as a quiet night on Bourbon Street,
even it couldn't escape the icy grip of this storm.
And speaking of snow totals, I bet New Orleans
got hit pretty hard too, didn't it?
Oh, absolutely.
The city recorded eight inches of snow at the airport.
Eight inches.
That's got to be a record, right?
I bet it is.
They shattered their previous daily record of 2.7 inches.
More than triple the old record.
Wow.
This storm was a record breaker everywhere it went.
It really was.
It was a truly historic event that
left its mark on weather records all across the Gulf Coast.
And let's not forget, it wasn't just Florida and Louisiana
that got hit.
Other parts of the Gulf Coast felt the chill too, right?
Oh, yeah, absolutely.
Mobile Alabama, for example, they
got slammed with 7.5 inches of snow.
7.5 inches.
That's got to be up there with their all-time record.
It is.
It smashed their one-day snowfall record, a record
that it stood since 1881.
That's almost 150 years.
So this wasn't just some localized event.
It was a widespread, massive storm that
impacted a huge chunk of the Gulf Coast,
rewriting weather history along the way.
You got it.
It was one for the history books, for sure.
Real once in a generation event.
You know what's crazy?
New Orleans got more snow in a single day
than New York City and Anchorage have seen combined
in recent months.
It's crazy, isn't it?
A southern city famous for its heat and humidity out
snowing two cities that are practically known
for their winter weather.
It just goes to show how unusual, how truly off the charts
this event really was.
We're talking record-breaking snow, blizzard warnings,
snowfall totals that rival some of the snowiest places
in the country.
This was a historic event, wouldn't you say?
Absolutely.
No doubt about it.
It's a storm people will be talking about for years to come,
a real reminder of Mother Nature's power,
and how unpredictable she can be.
Well said.
So here we are, amidst all the awe and what
are this incredible snowstorm.
And there's this one big question that just keeps popping up.
Could this, this unexpected blizzard in the Sunshine State,
could it be a glimpse into a future that's
being shaped by climate change?
Is this extreme weather in a place that's known for its warmth?
Is this a sign of things to come?
That's the big question, isn't it?
And it's one we're going to dive into head first
right after the break.
Stay tuned.
All right, we're back.
And I'm ready to tackle that big question you left us hanging
with.
Yeah, the climate change question.
It's the elephant in the room, isn't it?
It is.
When you see snow piled up next to palm trees,
it's hard not to wonder if this is just a freak event
or a sign of things to come.
Right.
It definitely makes you think about the bigger picture.
So let's get right to it.
What does the science actually say
about this snowstorm and climate change?
Are they connected or is it more complicated than that?
That's what I'm here to find out.
Give it to me straight.
What's the connection?
Well, it's not as simple as saying climate change
caused this snowstorm.
Think of it like this.
You get a cough.
OK, I'm coughing now.
What?
Well, that cough could be from a cold, allergies.
Maybe you just inhaled something funny.
There are lots of reasons why you might cough.
But sometimes a cough is a sign of something more serious.
Exactly.
And that's kind of like climate change and extreme weather.
Climate change, it can make all sorts of crazy weather
more likely.
Heatwaves, droughts, floods, and yes, even big snowstorms.
It's like climate change loads the dice,
making extreme events of all kinds more likely to happen.
So we can't say for sure that climate change caused
this snowstorm, but it might have made it more likely.
You got it.
It's a piece of the puzzle, but not the whole picture.
Right, right.
So this snowstorm might not be direct proof of climate change,
but it's something we need to keep in mind when we're
talking about how our climate is changing
and what that means for the future.
Exactly.
And don't forget, we had the warmest year on record
globally just last year.
2024 was the scorcher.
It was.
And you know, those warmer global temperatures,
they actually play a role in events like this snowstorm.
Wait, really?
How so?
Well, warmer temperatures, especially warmer oceans,
mean more water evaporates into the air, more moisture.
And you know what loves moisture?
Snowstorms.
Bingo.
It's a bit ironic, isn't it?
A warming world can actually lead
to more intense snowstorms under the right conditions.
It's almost like a twisted joke.
Warmer temperatures leading to more snow.
It's like Mother Nature has a weird sense of humor.
Well, she definitely keeps us on our toes.
But seriously, it all gets back to what
we were talking about before.
Everything in our climate system is connected.
And these connections, they can lead
to some pretty wild outcomes, a massive blizzard
in the heart of the South.
Yeah, this snowstorm was a real eye-opener.
The polar vortex dipping south, that high pressure
ridge off the West Coast, the warm gulf waters.
All these ingredients came together
at just the right time, in just the right way,
to create the perfect storm, literally.
You said it.
And I think the big takeaway here is this.
As our climate continues to change,
we can expect more of the unexpected.
More extreme events, whether they're heat waves, droughts,
floods, or yes, even massive snowstorms.
So what you're saying is, buckle up,
it's going to be a wild ride.
But on a serious note, this isn't just
about marveling at Mother Nature's power.
This is about recognizing the reality of climate change
and understanding that it's not just some future problem
that's happening now.
You're absolutely right.
This gulf coast snowstorm, it's a wake-up call.
It's a reminder that we're all in this together.
And we need to act now to protect our planet.
Well said.
And on that note, that's all the time
we have for today's episode of Meteorology Matters.
Yeah, it looks like we're out of time.
I want to thank you for joining me today,
for sharing your expertise, and for helping us make
sense of this wild weather event.
It's always a pleasure to talk about the weather, especially
when it's this interesting.
To all our listeners out there, thanks for tuning in.
We'll be back next time with another deep dive
into the fascinating world of meteorology.
Until then, stay curious, stay informed,
and as always, keep an eye on the skies.
You never know what you might see.