Parts of North Florida were blanketed by snow on Tuesday as a winter storm barreled through the South, resulting in the first-ever blizzard warning along parts of the Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana.

A rare winter storm warning is in effect across North Florida and the Panhandle as bitter cold temperatures, along with snow, are expected to arrive. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency Sunday ahead of what some forecasters have said has the potential to be one of the worst storms in Gulf Coast history.

A major winter storm prompts blizzard warnings, dumping heavy snow and sleet in a region where even flurries are a rare sight.