A major storm spread heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain across the southern United States on Wednesday, breaking snow records and treating the region to unaccustomed perils and wintertime joy.

Parts of the Gulf Coast measured a foot of snow on Tuesday. For many cities the totals obliterate long-standing snowfall records. Milton, Florida recorded 9 inches of snow which more than doubles the all-time statewide Florida record of 4 inches!

Forecasters said it was too early to tell whether the ice and snow would approach or beat Tallahassee’s all-time snowfall record of 2.8 inches set in 1958.

Light snow fell on this panhandle city Wednesday as the last remnant of an unprecedented, deadly storm rolled out to sea after smashing snow records from here to New Orleans and casting a blanket of ice across a region not targeted by such a severe wintry assault in generations.

Millions of people across the northern Gulf Coast braced Tuesday for a rare winter storm that’s expected to scatter heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain around the Deep South as a blast of Arctic air plunges much of the eastern U.S. into a deep freeze.

A winter storm is expected to bring extreme cold and possible record breaking snow to parts of the deep south.

So, as the Deep South grapples with the foreign language of snowflake icons making a (for some, repeat) appearance in weather apps, a reality check is in order.

A major storm could drop significant amounts of snow, ice pellets, and freezing rain across the U.S. Deep South through Tuesday

An arctic air mass will channel temperatures 20-30 degrees below already historically cold January averages. The South braced for a rare winter storm.

As heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain hit parts of the Deep South, a blast of Arctic air plunged much of the Midwest and the eastern U.S. into a deep freeze.

A rare frigid storm charged through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast on Tuesday, blanketing New Orleans and Houston with snow.

Houston’s two major airports, George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby, are also closed Tuesday, while Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest, is pretreated roadways and airfield surfaces in preparation for the winter weather, according to spokesperson Andrew Gobeil.