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.

Snow was falling in New Orleans, where as much as 8 inches were expected to accumulate by the end of the day, threatening to tie a record set in 1895.

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,