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.

Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency Monday ahead of a winter storm system that's expected to bring snow and ice to parts of the southeastern United States, including northern Florida.Portions of Florida are under a rare winter storm warning,