Millions of people across the northern Gulf Coast braced Tuesday for a rare winter storm that’s expected to scatter heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain around the Deep South as a blast of Arctic air plunges much of the eastern U.S. into a deep freeze.

A winter storm was on a track to sweep through Texas and Louisiana, across the Gulf Coast and deep into Florida, significant snow and ice in tow.

A snowstorm grips the U.S. South, creating unusual winter scenes:::: Tucker, Georgia:: Panama City, Florida:: Houston, Texas:: New Orleans, LouisianaThe storm is expected to crawl through Mississippi,