Question: In February 1899, the temperature in Tallahassee dropped to -2 degrees F, the coldest ever recorded in Florida. What is that event known as?
Answer: The Great Arctic Outbreak
In February 1899, a cold wave known as the Great Arctic Outbreak pushed frigid Canadian arctic air into the state. During this event, the lowest temperature recorded in Florida (-2°F) occurred on February 13, 1899. Since this outbreak, several “impact freezes” have influenced the retreat of the famous Florida orange groves from areas around Jacksonville and St. Augustine to their current locations in South Florida.
