The rare winter storm that is hitting the southern portion of the United States became historic Tuesday morning when the Lake Charles National Weather Service office issued its first-ever blizzard warning.

Isolated tornadoes, hail and damaging wind gusts are possible across Southwest Louisiana on Thursday as a cold front moves into the area. National Weather Service Lake Charles said a few storms could produce heavy rainfall resulting in localized flooding.

Though NWS forecasters are still collecting official snowfall counts, these reports give a good look at just how much snow Louisiana saw.

A National Weather Service office in Louisiana issued its first-ever blizzard warning on Tuesday amid snow and strong winds.

The cold temperatures are coming from a not uncommon expansion in the Polar Vortex, which are counter-clockwise rotating air currents that typically hang over the Arctic.

All data from the National Weather Service is considered preliminary until it is reviewed further, and that was the case with the previous measurement of 4.8 inches.

A "Freeze Warning" is in effect across southern Arkansas, northern Louisiana, Oklahoma and eastern Texas, as well as in small parts of Arizona, California and Florida, with temperatures falling as low as 27, and wind chills expected to feel as cold as low as 13 in some areas.

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - The Calcasieu Parish Executive Policy Group held a briefing for the public regarding preparations for the upcoming winter weather.

New Iberia and Lafayette saw the coldest temperatures on record Wednesday morning. Lake Charles saw the coldest temperatures ever recorded in January.

The mayor brought with him words of support for FEMA, an agency President Donald Trump talked about shutting down and recently issued orders for a commission to investigate.

A blizzard warning was in effect for parts of southern Louisiana on Tuesday, January 21, as a winter storm was forecast to bring up to 6 inches of snow and winds up to 35 mph to parts of the state.Chad Casey captured this footage showing snow whipping around the city of Lake Charles on Tuesday,

A photographer captured mesmerising footage of the US flag blowing in the wind in a snowy Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Tuesday, January 21, as a winter storm lashed the area. Video by Chad Casey shows the US flag standing prominently amid frosty conditions at Veterans Memorial Park.