ORLANDO, Fla. – A historic winter storm dumped record-breaking snow across the Gulf Coast, including Florida.
The previous greatest snowfall amount ever recorded in Florida was 4 inches, which fell in Milton on March 6, 1954. That record was shattered after Milton received 8.8 inches of snow over the last 24 hours.
[RELATED: Florida’s all-time snowfall record shattered with winter storm]
The heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain that hit 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.
With the storm, the first-ever blizzard warning was issued along parts of the Gulf Coast, from just north of Houston to Central Louisiana.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency and issued an executive order that said “all modes of hazardous winter weather will be likely, including snow, sleet, and freezing rain.”
The order, in part, gave authority to Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie to take steps to direct the emergency response and ordered the activation of the Florida National Guard “as needed” to respond.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for northern Florida and southeast Georgia through 1 p.m. Wednesday as heavy mixed winter precipitation will be possible.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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