This has been the coldest start to January in a decade for Polk County, the NWS says. Here's what to expect as a historic winter storm invades Florida.

North Florida residents from Pensacola to Jacksonville are bracing for what is expected to be a historic, once-in-a-lifetime winter storm.

The heaviest snowfall in the Sunshine State occurred around Pensacola, where spotters reported measuring amounts of 5 to 12 inches through Tuesday evening. Due to the hazardous weather and a series of crashes, a nearly 70-mile stretch of Interstate 10 was shut down by the Florida Highway Patrol.

The winter storm that moved through Florida on Tuesday into Wednesday is one for the record books, smashing the previous all-time high for snowfall in the Sunshine State.

Most of north Florida is preparing for the impacts of a rare and potentially historic winter storm that is bringing snow and ice to the area, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday.