Snow fell in Florida's panhandle on Tuesday, blanketing roads, closing businesses and schools. Florida residents who had a rare snow day were seen in photos and videos making snowmen and having snowball fights. Meteorologists say the snow may stick around until Wednesday, but won't reach Tampa.

Model runs are increasing in confidence the area will see significant snow, though a wintry mix of sleet and ice are possible along the coastal areas.

The heaviest snowfall in the Sunshine State occurred around Pensacola, where spotters reported measuring amounts of 5 to 12 inches through Tuesday evening. Due to the hazardous weather and a series of crashes, a nearly 70-mile stretch of Interstate 10 was shut down by the Florida Highway Patrol.

Snowing on the beach in Florida? See a photo gallery of the unprecedented amount of snow that fell on northern Florida on Tuesday.

Pensacola awoke to subfreezing temperatures for the second day in a row as a “significant winter storm” began to roll into the area.

A major winter storm that slammed Texas and blanketed the northern Gulf Coast with record-breaking snow moved east Wednesday, spreading heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain across parts of the Florida Panhandle,