A major winter storm slammed the US Gulf Coast Tuesday, blanketing parts of a region largely unaccustomed to extreme winter weather with record-breaking snowfall.

In the wake of this rare snowfall, it's transformed the Sunshine State into an otherworldly winter wonderland, and social media is buzzing with stunning photos of icy beaches, snow-dusted palm trees, and surreal frozen landscapes.

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