Snow?

[rock_doctor]

Can you imagine what would happen in Florida if they got 6ft of snow or even 6 inches of snow???? Last Christmas was one of the worst we have seen in Florida. No snow but tons of ice. Disney World is absolutely gorgeous with ice coating all of the trees...especially with the Christmas lights under the ice...

 

[Buckeye Fan]

If we are going to chat about real snow I'll pull out my years in Syracuse NY -- annual totals 110 to 120 inches - monthly records exceed 6 feet - meaningful snowfall six months a year - over 60 days of measurable snowfall each year.

Now that IS real snow!!!

Assuming you had to clear roof tops and everything, huh? Wow. I can't even imagine. We drove from C-bus to Indianapolis one year for a hockey tournament. When we left, there was about 12", and we ended up getting 22 or 24" total that day. What should have been a 3 hour and 15 minute trip was over 6 hours. Cars everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE. SUVs scattered. Watched a semi jackknife, because it couldn't stop due to a wreck that wasn't visible due to snow falling so hard. Level 3 or 4 snow emergency, which basically means you will be ticketed if out on the road. You could tell how many people were paying attention. Gotta love crazy hockey parents...only 1 family didn't make it - and not because they didn't try! Not smart, but looking back, it was kind of fun.

Okay...it's out of my system...back to what I said before - NO SNOW TALK!

 

[Greysword]

There is one more important thing to know about Florida, it can snow (and accumulate) in the Northern part of the State. When this happens, the Highway Patrol will close the Interstates in the affected areas.*

This is likely to not be a problem for most, but it can very well effect those who are driving to WDW from any other State

*Note: FHP closes the Interstate due to the number of accidents occurring as a result of the weather. Since much of Florida are "snowbirds" from the North and mid-west, I blame them in forgetting how to drive in the stuff.

 

[DizGirl20]

If we are going to chat about real snow I'll pull out my years in Syracuse NY -- annual totals 110 to 120 inches - monthly records exceed 6 feet - meaningful snowfall six months a year - over 60 days of measurable snowfall each year.

Hey I lived in Syracuse for 10 years and survived the Blizzard of '93. 43 inches!

 

[starbox]

I grew up in Tallahassee - just about as far north Florida as you can get. It snowed enough to scrape together a dirty frosty snowman (as in, scrape ALL the snow off the ground and pack it mixed with leaves and pine straw) a total of TWICE in twenty years. Maybe saw flurries four or five times? No snow ever lasted past the afternoon. They closed the interstate (I-10) ONCE for ice.

I've heard of a flurry in Orlando once in a blue moon. I think actual snow-on-the-ground snow is more of a once in 50 years phenomenon - and even then, it will be gone by mid-day.

But it does get COLD. It's so flat and with wind and temps in the 30's or even 40's it can feel BITTER COLD. January and February are potentially the coldest months - January is the coldest. But even then, you'll have days in the 70's

 

[Sandy321]

I was there in that freeze of 2010 - in the half, and let me tell you there was rain, and while I waited for the Half to begin, snow flurries - and while I was running - SLEET - I thought it hit me so hard I was bleeding!

and all the flora and fauna, freeze hit it hard, it looked so sad

accumulation? not so much... jackets, ear muffs, gloves? You betcha!

 

[nunzia]

Our one trip to WDW..it was March in 1993..there was some huge mess of a weather system..Crestview Florida for the night...tornado warnings all night, and woke up to yes..SNOW..real snow..not super deep..maybe 2"..but holy cow SNOW. And the night had been rough as there were semis on their sides, power out etc, on the drive to Orlando. We arrive at WDW and palm trees are uprooted laying around, wind is blowing, it is COLD...our first WDW memory is dumping lots of $$$ on warm clothes. All of our vacation pictures have palm trees leaning waaaay over from the wind. We still have the newspaper..headline "March Monster Roars" sooo...maybe not snow in Orlando, but it gets super icy cold.

 

[moredisneyplease]

just keep an eye on the weather the entire week before your trip. i've been to WDW many, many times in January (for the races) and once it was in the 20s at the start of the race and then a few years later it was scorching and people were dropping left and right during the races. for the most part its jeans and sweatshirt weather but you never know.

 

[joelnkelly]

I have lived i orlando for the past 15 years and it has not yet snowed once in that time. The temps can get pretty chilly/cold at night but it will typically warm back up during the day. In January the avg. temp is usually in the mid 60's, some days it can get warmer. I wouldnt be worry about it snowing here...

 

[DVC-Don]

I have not seen snow, but one trip we had ice on the stairs to our Grand Villa at OKW

 

[MinnieGi]

We just arrived back yesterday after a beautiful week of sunny weather in the 80's!! The only snow we saw was at DHS Osborne Lights!!

However we were there last Christmas week and it did get chilly for quite a few days!! We've been in Jan and Feb for other trips and its always so hard to pack b/c you need to bring warm and cool clothes. Last year we were actually at Blizzard Beach sunning ourselves one day and two days later were dressed in hats and gloves!!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I ran the first 4 miles or so of the Half Marathon in January a few years ago in SLEET. It was a nightmare. If it's that cold this January I am staying home and skipping the race!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I ran the first 4 miles or so of the Half Marathon in January a few years ago in SLEET. It was a nightmare. If it's that cold this January I am staying home and skipping the race!

Oh, Oh! I won't let DH see this! He's considering running the half marathon in January 2013 (he just did the Wine and Dine half marathon). He runs in heat regularly, but cold might be a real problem for him.

 

[jstarcze]

From Wikipedia:

Because the winter season is dry and freezing temperatures usually occur only after cold fronts (and their accompanying precipitation) have passed, snow is exceptionally rare. The only accumulation ever to occur in the city proper since recordkeeping began was in 1948, though surrounding areas did accumulate 6" in a snow event in 1977. It is also likely that accumulations occurred in connection with the Great Blizzard of 1899. Trace flurries have also been observed in 1989 and 2010.

 

[candielips]

This is a horrible thread! I am from Canada folks and we have a week booked this Jan/Feb followed by our first disney cruise and we do not want to see snow. I want to be able to walk around in a light sweater and hopefully enjoy the pool. Am I crazy for thinking we might actually get to spend a day at the pool?

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

It may be very pleasant! I've had perfect weather On previous trips in dec, Jan, & feb.

 

[Deb & Bill]

This is a horrible thread! I am from Canada folks and we have a week booked this Jan/Feb followed by our first disney cruise and we do not want to see snow. I want to be able to walk around in a light sweater and hopefully enjoy the pool. Am I crazy for thinking we might actually get to spend a day at the pool?

We've been in early January. We've had 80's where we got sunburned several days in a row at Blizzard Beach and 40's where we layered on clothes to keep warm.

 

[candielips]

We've been in early January. We've had 80's where we got sunburned several days in a row at Blizzard Beach and 40's where we layered on clothes to keep warm.

Heres hoping!

Thanks for the hope you guys.

 

[joelnkelly]

People, stop worrying. You will not see any snow in orlando. it might be chilly, meaning jacket weather but I am guessing you have a better chance of seeing a pig fly than seeing snow in the air.

 

[Greysword]

From Wikipedia:

Because the winter season is dry and freezing temperatures usually occur only after cold fronts (and their accompanying precipitation) have passed, snow is exceptionally rare. The only accumulation ever to occur in the city proper since recordkeeping began was in 1948, though surrounding areas did accumulate 6" in a snow event in 1977. It is also likely that accumulations occurred in connection with the Great Blizzard of 1899. Trace flurries have also been observed in 1989 and 2010.

You forgot the super script that said, "citation needed"

People, stop worrying. You will not see any snow in orlando. it might be chilly, meaning jacket weather but I am guessing you have a better chance of seeing a pig fly than seeing snow in the air.

Many Northerners (from the US and Canada) have proclaimed the same, and ended up buying heavy winter coats for their stay in sunny (and sometimes not so warm) central Florida! If you visit in the winter, be prepared for bone-chilling cold and hot summer weather (e.g. layers).