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.

Lingering frigid conditions could continue to disrupt the South in cities not accustomed to the deep freeze that has gripped much of the nation.

At least three deaths were attributed to the cold as dangerous below-freezing temperatures with even colder wind chills settled in.