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.

Winter storm warnings spread from Louisiana through Virginia on Tuesday as a winter storm hit the U.S. Southeast.

The South is bracing for a major winter storm, most of the nation remains gripped by extreme cold, and high winds could fan flames in California.