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.

Heavy snow, sleet and ice are making travel conditions treacherous across the region, stretching from Houston into the Florida panhandle.

A powerful winter storm blankets the Southern US in snow, causing unprecedented disruption in New Orleans, Texas, and beyond. Record snowfall, flight cancellations, and power outages reported.