Residents across parts of the Gulf Coast and South are bracing for a rare winter storm expected to drop heavy snow and create treacherous conditions.

A rare frigid storm charged through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast on Tuesday, blanketing New Orleans and Houston with snow that closed highways, grounded nearly all flights and canceled school for more than a million students more accustomed to hurricane dismissals than snow days.

A winter storm sweeping across the south is now responsible for claiming several lives in a vehicle crash on an icy Texas highway. Schools are closed, snow is piling up and freezing temperatures are widespread as the storm tracks from Texas,