A winter storm was on a track to sweep through Texas and Louisiana, across the Gulf Coast and deep into Florida, significant snow and ice in tow.

WASHINGTON – Southern California’s ongoing wildfires — which so far have killed 27 and burned down at least 10,000 homes — are expected to need billions of dollars in disaster

Snow covered the white-sand beaches of normally sunny vacation spots, including Gulf Shores, Alabama, and Pensacola Beach, Florida. The heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain hitting 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.

The storm prompted the first-ever blizzard warnings for several coastal counties near the Texas-Louisiana border, and snowplows were at the ready in the Florida Panhandle.

A major storm spread heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain across parts of the Florida Panhandle, Georgia and the coastal Carolinas on Wednesday after breaking snow records in Texas and Louisiana, treating the region to unaccustomed perils and wintertime joy.

A Louisiana native now living in Los Angeles shared how he and others have stepped in to help those in need. Jalen St. Romain, better known as “DJ Noodlez,” a native of the Shreveport, Bossier City area moved to Los Angeles 2 years ago.

Southern California lawmakers on both sides of the aisle largely agree: No conditions on wildfire aid.

A dangerous winter storm sweeping across the South has prompted Blizzard Warnings for portions of Texas and Louisiana, new wildfires have erupted in Southern California, and the polar vortex continues to tighten its grip across the U.

A major winter storm hits the southern United States, bringing record-breaking snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Thousands of flights are grounded, schools closed, and highways closed.

The snow storm could hit over a dozen states through Wednesday, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.

The vast majority of us will never be able to do that, but I would encourage you to prepare for what is ahead however you are able.

Much-anticipated rain could be headed to drought-stricken Southern California this weekend -- but rainfall also brings the threat of landslides.