Snow in Bradenton? See videos as Arctic blast brings rare sight to Florida
As a powerful Arctic blast swept across Florida this weekend, it brought more than freezing temperatures to Bradenton.
Locals shared excitement as rare sightings of snow flurries appeared in the Southwest Florida air.
Videos shared online documented snowflakes swirling in Bradenton, Parrish, Anna Maria Island, Sarasota and elsewhere in the area.
Why is it happening? Meteorologists credit “the Gulf effect.” Similar to “lake effect snow” common to the Great Lakes area, freezing air moving over significantly warmer water pushes moisture upwards, creating clouds and the possibility for snow flurries.
Here’s a look at some of the local snow sightings.
Bradenton-area snow videos
This story was originally published February 1, 2026 at 12:39 PM.