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.

A powerful Arctic blast is bringing life-threatening cold to the Midwest and Northeast, while a rare winter storm blankets the Gulf Coast.

A major storm spread heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain across the southern United States on Wednesday, breaking snow records and treating the region to unaccustomed perils and wintertime joy.

Snow and ice had ground road travel at a halt in some places, and at least two people died in Texas. Many school districts had closed throughout a region unaccustomed to snow.

Forecasters said it was too early to tell whether the ice and snow would approach or beat Tallahassee’s all-time snowfall record of 2.8 inches set in 1958.

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All Houston airports will reopen Wednesday after shutting down on Jan. 21 as a winter storm barreled through South Texas.

The National Weather Service issued an updated winter storm warning at 10:38 p.m. EST on Tuesday valid from Wednesday 7 a.m. EST until Thursday 1 a.m. EST for Leelanau, Benzie and Manistee counties.

Local officials are urging drivers to stay off the roads as crews work to clear them, but the impact is already being felt by auto repair shops and tow companies.

In the aftermath of the winter storm, Lake area plumbers like Jesse Wright of Ace Air Conditioning and Plumbing have been hard at work trying to respond to as many people as possible.

LONG BEACH, Miss. (WLOX) — Schools across South Mississippi are preparing to reopen after the winter storm gave students a few days off. On Thursday, Long Beach staff checked buses and buildings to ensure a smooth reopening on Monday.