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.

For the latest updates on the snow, follow USA TODAY's coverage for Wednesday, Jan. 22. LAFAYETTE, La. − A wide swath of the South was targeted by a major winter storm Tuesday as brutally cold temperatures gripped much of the nation,

Today, January 21, 2025, a winter storm barreled through the southern United States, depositing snow in cities like Houston and New Orleans. According to the Associated Press, snow plows were at the ready in a particularly surprising locale—the Florida panhandle.