The heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain hitting parts of the Deep South came as a blast of Arctic air plunged much of the Midwest and the eastern US into a deep freeze.

North Florida residents from Pensacola to Jacksonville are bracing for what is expected to be a historic, once-in-a-lifetime winter storm.

The record snowfall comes as a significant winter storm is sweeping across parts of the Gulf Coast, including the Florida Panhandle. Winter Storm Warnings are in effect across North Florida and the entire Panhandle.