Parts of Florida were transformed into a winter wonderland on Sunday morning as a brief burst of snow fell over the western Florida Panhandle. This rare occurrence marks the second year in a row that certain areas of the Sunshine State have witnessed snow, signalling a fascinating change in local weather patterns.

Residents like Danielle Brahier were delighted to wake up to a snowy landscape at her home in Holt, Florida. After setting an early alarm, she and her three daughters rushed outside to make snowmen and have fun in the snow. Brahier noted, It was enough to make snowballs and snowmen, reflecting on the sheer joy of the moment.

Snowflakes also graced other regions across the U.S., including blustery North Dakota and Minnesota, where blizzard conditions prompted weather warnings. This past winter, Florida recorded significant snowfall for the first time in decades, with up to 8 inches measured in some localities.

Jim Keith, another astonished local, enjoyed his morning coffee while watching the snowfall, calling it phenomenal and something that shouldn't happen two years consecutively.

As social media erupted with images of this unusual winter scene, residents captured glimpses of snow atop palm trees and on the beaches, even as it quickly melted on the warmer ground.

The snowfall extended beyond Florida, with reports of snow in southeastern Alabama and southern Georgia, thrilling residents who experienced their own unexpected winter wonderland. Not far away, forecasters warned of severe blizzard conditions in North Dakota with extreme wind chills reported at almost minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

This unexpected wintry weather raises questions about changing climatic conditions and the future weather patterns residents in the South may have to adapt to.