Residents in north Florida are enjoying a rare weather occurrence as an Artic blast blanketed the area this week dropping more than 7 inches of snow in the Panhandle.

Most of the snow fell in the western Panhandle. Pensacola received a record 7.6 inches of snow between midnight Jan. 21 to midnight Jan. 22. The previous record was 3 inches way back in 1895.

Tallahassee got about an inch of snow but experienced more sleet. Farther east, Jacksonville didn’t get snow, but did some of the freezing rain. The rest of the Sunshine State is getting lower than normal temperatures, but not low enough to get the cold, fluffy stuff.

Has it ever snowed as far south as Brevard?

Surprisingly, the answer is yes. But it’s been a while.

Nearly 48 years ago was the last time in snowed in Brevard County. It was Jan. 18, 1977, when snow flurries fell on the Space Coast.

The fast-melting flurries fell in Mims, Titusville, north Melbourne, Merritt Island and Satellite Beach. The temperature in Melbourne dropped to 19 that day, the coldest on record.

Could it snow this winter in Brevard?

Not any time soon, but it will be chilly.

“Even colder temperatures are expected late this week,” according to the National Weather Service in Melbourne. “By Saturday morning, areas of frost and bitter wind chills in the mid 20s to mid 30s, especially inland and north of Orlando. A warming trend begins Sunday into next week.”

The low Friday night is expected to drop to 41. Temperatures will increase from there reaching a high of 72 Monday.

As for the remaining of the winter season, we’ll have to wait and see which way the wind blows.

Spitzer is a Trending Reporter. She can be reached at [email protected].