The major winter storm moved east Wednesday, spreading heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain across parts of the Florida Panhandle, Georgia and the eastern Carolinas. The precipitation hitting parts of the Deep South came as a blast of arctic air plunged much of the Midwest and the eastern U.S. into a deep freeze.

Tuesday and Wednesday delivered a winter wonderland for some and delayed travel plans for others as an unusual layer of snow and ice coated North Florida. Preliminary storm data from the National Weather Service show as much as six inches of snow in Bonifay in Holmes County and in Fountain and Cedar Grove in Bay

Florida residents in four locations woke to very chilly temps. It was 25 in Tallahassee at 6 a.m. By comparison, it was 41 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Climatologically, it is not supposed to snow in South Florida. The laid-back tropics are a region constantly gaining energy from the sun, and with Florida's temperatures moderated by warm water on three sides, snow is unusual even in the northern reaches of the state.

The heaviest snowfall in the Sunshine State occurred around Pensacola, where spotters reported measuring amounts of 5-12 inches through Tuesday evening.

Parts of North Florida are experiencing winter weather on Tuesday afternoon as a winter storm warning has been issued for the panhandle and Big Bend regions of the state.

Not only did Florida get record snowfall, but it was colder in Pensacola this morning than it was in Anchorage, Alaska.

A potentially historic winter storm is heading to Florida. It promises to bring a significant coat of snow and ice, which will cause power and road issues.

After a record-breaking Gulf Coast storm, cities like New Orleans and Pensacola, Florida, have had more snow this winter than Omaha, Des Moines and New York.

Areas between Pensacola and Milton saw as much as 10 inches of snow, according to recent snowfall totals. Residents wasted no time throwing on their winter gear and heading outside to sled on makeshift sleighs, build snowmen and get to work cleaning it all up.

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