A rare winter storm across North Florida is causing historic snow in Pensacola and the Panhandle. See striking images of how residents reacted.

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

Pensacola had official total of 7.6 inches, while Milton hit 8.8. Unofficial totals by Weather Service could be as high as 9.8 inches.

Snow in the Sunshine State doesn't happen very often. But it did. And here are the photos from Pensacola to Yulee to prove it.

The National Weather Service placed northwest Florida under a winter storm warning until 6 a.m. Wednesday, reporting that snow accumulations would total between 2 and 4 inches, with up to 6 inches of snow possible in southern portions of the warning area. An extreme cold warning is also in effect for the area.

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.

Pensacola awoke to subfreezing temperatures for the second day in a row as a “significant winter storm” began to roll into the area on Tuesday with the potential to cause extensive damage to property and public infrastructure.