A rare Southern storm that smashed snow records from New Orleans to Pensacola was rolling out to sea Wednesday after encasing in ice and snow a region not targeted by such a severe wintry assault in generations − and leaving death and disruption in its wake.

A historic Gulf Coast winter storm brings blizzard conditions, power outages and travel chaos to a region unprepared for snow and ice.

Blizzard warnings were issued for areas near the Gulf Coast as a massive winter storm hits the South. Nearly 250 million Americans are under cold weather advisories or extreme cold warnings.