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.

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

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