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.

Up to 10 inches of more of snow fell on the Deep South, creating challenges for snow removal in a region that almost never sees significant snowfall. The snow and ice caused hazardous conditions on roads,