A strong winter storm blasting through the United States, including the Gulf Coast, is bringing the rare sight of snow and ice to northern Florida, and frigid rain to Tampa Bay.

The Florida Department of Transportation has closed parts of I-10 in north Florida because of the rare winter storm.>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE As of 7:15 p.m., the interstate is closed from MM 5 in Escambia County to MM 70 in Okaloosa County.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency as the Panhandle and other parts of north Florida get hit with frigid weather and the possibility of snow and ice.

A winter weather system headed toward North Florida prompted the governor to issue a state of emergency for the region on Monday.

Snow in Florida is quite rare but not unheard of. The last time parts of the Sunshine State picked up a dusting of snow was back in 2018. Tonight's storm will bring a lot more than a dusting, even rivaling the winter storm of 1989, which blanketed north Florida with snow and ice days before Christmas.

North Florida could see a rare round of frozen precipitation next week — though the timing will have to be just right for sleet or snow to materialize.

Cold weather shelters are opening across North Central Florida as a rare winter storm impacts the region Tuesday evening

While the winter weather is not expected to push too far into Central Florida, some counties have the chance to see freezing rain. See temperature outlook, full forecast:

Snow has begun to fall in Florida as Winter Storm Enzo made its way through the South. Traffic cameras from the Florida Department of Transportation showed heavy snow along I-10 in Escambia County, which is near the state’s border with Alabama.

JACKSONVILLE, FLA – A rare winter storm is set to impact North Florida and southern Georgia on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning and it will bring the risk of ice and even some snow to the region.

Storm Warning is in effect for the entire Interstate 10 corridor where snow and ice accumulations could reach 4" over the next 24 hours. Pensacola will likely see the most snowfall in the state while greater amounts of ice are anticipated for cities such as Tallahassee and Jacksonville.