Texas was on the receiving end of a rare snowstorm Thursday evening, much to the excitement and consternation of its residents. Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi and other places saw up to 2.5 inches of snow by 9 p.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Texans posted photos on social media showing the snow.

“Dear world,” one person wrote. “Please excuse our ridiculous excitement over the few minutes of snow. It’s a South Texas thing.”

Houston Texans defensive end joined the fun on Twitter, posting a video of himself catching snowflakes on his tongue. Others called it a “Texas Christmas miracle.”

Snow continued into Friday in parts of the state, including Houston. Serious snowfall is rare in Texas: the last similar snowstorm in San Antonio took place in 1987, when 1.3 inches of snow fell, according to USA Today.

Winter Storm Benji brought winter weather to places along a 2,000 mile stretch spreading from deep in the south into the Northeast, according to the Weather Channel. In addition to Texas, parts of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia saw snowfall. In Jackson, Mississippi, up to 4 inches of snow was already recorded.

Winter weather advisories remained in place for parts of the state including Houston, Galveston, Sugar Land and other areas. Advisories were also in place for other regions in the country, including Birmingham, Alabama, and Greensboro, North Carolina.

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