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.

Up to 10 inches of more of snow fell on the Deep South, creating challenges for snow removal in a region that almost never sees significant snowfall. The snow and ice caused hazardous conditions on roads,