Arctic blast shatters records across the Southeast

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Arctic air brings record-low temps across Alabama, Florida, and Georgia

Florida faces “falling iguana” warnings amid unusual freeze

Lake-effect snow blankets Great Lakes and Northeast communities

Atmospheric river threatens California with heavy rain and flooding

The first major cold spell of the season plunged parts of the southeastern U.S. into record-low temperatures Tuesday, delivering a shock for 18 million people under a freeze warning across Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Meanwhile, several inches of snow blanketed areas along the eastern Great Lakes as the blast of cold air moved through.

The direct shot of Arctic air affecting the eastern two-thirds of the country migrated east — and far southeast — from the Northern Plains, which was hit with gusty chills an