Snow briefly covered rooftops and lawns across parts of the western Florida Panhandle on Sunday for the second consecutive year, as arctic air following a cold front converted late rain showers into snowflakes, the Associated Press reported. Southeastern Alabama and parts of southern Georgia also reported snowfall, with accumulations reaching the ground in Columbus and Macon. Farther north, New England braced for three to five inches of snow while a blizzard warning covered parts of the upper Midwest.
The back-to-back southern snowfall follows a January 2025 storm that deposited up to eight inches on some Florida Panhandle communities — the heaviest accumulations many areas had seen since the late 1800s — underscoring an unusual pattern of winter weather in a region that rarely sees snow at all.
Florida Panhandle
Sunday’s dusting was light enough to stay off roads but heavy enough to settle into palm fronds and reach beachfront areas, according to the AP. Photographs of the rare scene spread across social media within hours, with images showing a faint white cover on beachside grass that largely melted as temperatures climbed.
The snow came in the same areas that recorded the more significant January 2025 accumulations, marking the second time in under a year that residents of the western Panhandle have seen their lawns briefly turn white.
Southeast
Southern Georgia saw more substantive accumulation than Florida. Snow covered the ground in Columbus and Macon, and officials warned the totals could be sufficient to make travel treacherous in some areas, according to the AP.
New England
Three to five inches of snow were predicted for Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts on Sunday afternoon and evening, according to the AP — coinciding with the New England Patriots’ hosting of the Houston Texans at a 3 p.m. kickoff.
National Weather Service meteorologist Kyle Pederson said the Boston area could expect “wet and heavy” snow showers, but noted the heaviest totals were not expected until well after the game ended.
“There’s a low-pressure system passing offshore and it’s close enough to bring us some snow, but far enough away not to be a major hit,” Pederson said.
Chicago and the Midwest
In Chicago, snow accumulation was expected to be minimal as the Bears hosted the Los Angeles Rams, but temperatures in the teens and a wind chill approaching zero posed concerns for fans and players, according to the AP.
Farther north, a blizzard warning was in effect until 9 p.m. local time for parts of northwest and west-central Minnesota and southeast North Dakota. Forecasters said wind gusts up to 55 miles per hour could produce whiteout conditions and make travel hazardous or life-threatening, even though total snow accumulation was expected to remain around two inches.