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.

Millions of Americans face an artic blast, including the first-ever blizzard warning for parts of the Gulf Coast.

Blizzards are set to bring heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain all the way along the Gulf Coast from Texas to North Carolina - conditions usually only seen further north.