Snow also fell in 1982 — here’s influential Lakelander Willy Wolfson enjoying a rare Swan City snow day. | Photo via Lakeland Public Library
If so, you’ll have to go back to Florida’s “great snowfall” of 1977. On Jan. 19, Floridians — Lakelanders included — awoke to up to two inches of snow.
While the snow day did cause a few driving mishaps, it seemed as though most celebrated the once-in-a-lifetime snowfall by catching flakes on their tongues and making hot chocolate.
Check out a few more snowtable facts about Florida’s relationship with snow days:
❄️ The earliest recorded snowfall in Florida was in 1774. It was such a phenomenon that some Jacksonville residents called the snow “extraordinary white rain.”
❄️ The first “White Christmas” in Florida’s history was in 1989, with several inches in some areas. The snow even reached as far south as Pinellas County.
❄️ In January of 2020, there were reports of graupel(soft hail or snow pellets) in South Florida, spanning across coastal Palm Beach and Broward Counties.
❄️ Some Polk County residents also thought they saw snow last January, but the National Weather Service debunked the claims.
Asked
Asked
How cold did it get during Polk’s “Big Freeze” of 1894?
The SkinPen Experience | 5:30 p.m. | Watson Clinic Women’s Center - Suite B | Free | Watson Clinic physician assistant, Hannah Montague, PA, is hosting a special event introducing the SkinPen®, a revolutionary device that generates glowing skin without chemicals, heat, or stress.*
Got a pesky pothole on your road? It could be fixed faster thanks to the city’s new contract with Roadway Management Technologies. The company uses AI to detect which roads require repairs based on data from sensors on city vehicles. The tech will cost the city $60,000 per year. (LkldNow)
Number
6,300. That’s how many individuals experiencing homelessness The Cosmo Project served last year. Founder Michael Carrano said that number was up from around 4,000 in 2024, and the nonprofit needs men’s clothing donations + volunteers to distribute goods on Sundays at 11 a.m. in Munn Park. (Bay News 9)
Closing
Goodbye, Green House Garden Store. The shop announced that it will close after its lease ends this month. Purchase your last plants and garden items during a sale Saturday, Jan. 10-Thursday, Jan. 15, and call to check daily opening hours through the end of January.
Award
Polk County received a wheel-y big honor: a 2025 Wheel of Achievement Award from Bike/Walk Central Florida. The county won the Innovative Bike/Ped Infrastructure: Large Scale category for its Fort Fraser Trail Extension Project. Take a ride to see what’s new.
Opening
Concord Coffee’s next location opens this Saturday, Jan. 10, at 239 3rd St. SW in downtown Winter Haven. Find it between The Potting Bench and Polk Cycles to order your favorite drinks. Editor’s pick: an iced vanilla cappuccino.
Sports
Jake Guentzel of the Tampa Bay Lightning will represent Team USA at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, and eight other Lightning players will compete for their home countries. Cheer them on when the hockey tournament begins on Wednesday, Feb. 11. (FOX 13 News)
Don’t break a sweat just looking for a gym this year. Start your search with these locally owned fitness studios offering deals for new members.
CYCLEdelic
Get two weeks of unlimited indoor cycling or strength classes for free with the “New Year, New Member” offer.
Burn Boot Camp
This group fitness center offers four weeks for $69 — try it out for a month and see if it checks your workout wishlist.
Deb’s Gym
Become a member at this 24/7 facility by the end of January for a special rate: three months for $75, plus a $10 sign-up fee.
Earn Your Stripes
This military-inspired training facility offers a 21-day trial for $39, giving you a chance to try its action-packed workouts. Yoga Pointe
Snag a deal on the mini membership (four classes per month) or get unlimited classes with the discounted bliss membership through Thursday, Jan. 15.
}})
