First snow of the season: Record cold hits southeastern US as 18 million under freeze warning

A rare cold spell has swept across the southeastern United States, with about 18 million people under freeze warnings in Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

Temperatures plunged to 28° (−2°C) in Jacksonville, breaking daily records. In Florida, the chill prompted a “falling iguana” alert as reptiles froze and dropped from trees.

Farther north, heavy lake-effect snow hit communities near the Great Lakes, including Buffalo and Rochester, where up to 15 centimetres were forecast. Forecasters expect milder weather to return by the end of the week.