At least the Floridians in the north are, after a freak winter storm brought record-breaking snow to the Panhandle and much of North Florida this week. And these were long-standing records. The previous record for snow in the state — 4 inches — was set in Milton in 1954.

Climatologically, it is not supposed to snow in South Florida. The laid-back tropics are a region constantly gaining energy from the sun, and with Florida's temperatures moderated by warm water on three sides, snow is unusual even in the northern reaches of the state.