A rare frigid storm charged through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast on Tuesday, blanketing New Orleans and Houston with snow, closing highways, grounding nearly all flights and canceling school for millions of students more used to hurricane dismissals than snow days.

The highest amount of snowfall is expected on Florida's western side, with some areas getting up to 8 inches of snow, leaving authorities to close the I-10 for cleaning

Snowing on the beach in Florida? See a photo gallery of the unprecedented amount of snow that fell on northern Florida on Tuesday.