TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Tampa Bay area is no stranger to the occasional cold snap, but it usually comes without the snowfall expected farther north.
However, on Jan. 19, 1977, folks as far south as Venice woke up to a blanket of snow on their cars and lawns.
The snow started late the previous night and accumulated before sunrise, thanks to the below-freezing temperatures. 0.2 inches were recorded in Tampa, but some areas saw 1-2 inches of snow, Max Defender 8 meteorologists said.
The dusting shuttered schools and utility companies had to work to keep the power on amid increased demand. A combination of inexperienced winter drivers and untreated roads caused dozens of crashes…