A rare frigid storm charged through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast on Tuesday, blanketing New Orleans and Houston with snow that closed highways, grounded nearly all flights and canceled school for more than a million students more accustomed to hurricane dismissals than snow days.

Preparations are underway from Houston to Atlanta as a rare winter storm sets its sights on the southern U.S., where it's expected to bring a messy mix of heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain that could have a major impact on travel and daily life.

Lingering frigid conditions could continue to disrupt the South in cities not accustomed to the deep freeze that has gripped much of the nation.

Snow totals in Louisiana have broken records. Parts of Florida, Texas and Georgia have also accumulated several inches of snow.

That's wild considering it hasn't snowed in New Orleans since 2009, and their last "big" snowstorm was in 2008 when 1-2 inches fell. Up to five inches of snow could accumulate in the Houston area. The all-time record snowfall in Houston is 3.0 inches, so this is very clearly a historic situation.

Snow totals in the inconceivable 4-6” range are a possibility. The all-time Florida snow record of 4” from Milton in 1954 is in serious danger of falling in the next 24 hours.

From a snowy Bourbon Street in New Orleans to making a snowman on the beaches in Houston, check out the falling snow in our southern states.

For Houston, the winter blast marks the latest ... Parts of the Florida Panhandle were coated white Tuesday. Tallahassee, Florida’s capital, last saw snow in 2018 — just 0.1 of an inch ...

The all-time snow record in Tallahassee is 2.8” on February 12-13, 1958 is in serious danger of falling in the next 24 hours, as is the all-time Florida record of 4” from Milton on March 6 ...

The rare Southern storm prompted this headline from the Anchorage Daily News: "Hey, New Orleans, please send some of your snow to Anchorage."

Both Houston airports suspended flight operations ... Corey Williams in Detroit; Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida; Nadia Lathan in Austin, Texas; Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia; Jeffrey Collins ...

All-American wide receivers Xavier Restrepo, Pat Bryant and Jayden Higgins among the Florida natives who accepted invitations to the Senior Bowl.