Large parts of the southern US are braced for a rare winter storm expected to bring below-freezing temperatures, heavy snow, and freezing rain and sleet, forecasters have said. More than 55 million people in the Gulf Coast region could be affected, Sky News' US partner, NBC News, has reported.
Temperatures are expected to be significantly below the January average for most locations, according to the US National Weather Service (NWS). It warned of "many record lows on Wednesday morning, especially along the Gulf Coast and into the Tennessee Valley".
The forecast has prompted officials to issue rare warnings that are more common to those living in the north of the country. Trump latest: Musk explains salute. Between three and seven inches of snow (7.5cm to 15cm) is set to fall over parts of southern Mississippi and southeast Louisiana, including New Orleans, heading into Tuesday, the NWS said.
Thick snow fell on parts of the US east coast as temperatures plunged to well below normal on Monday. Millions of people, primarily across the southern US and mostly living in an area from Texas to Florida, are facing some type of weather hazard, NWS meteorologist Marc Chenard said.
Around 21 million people are under a winter storm warning, Mr Chenard added, while about 170 million people in an area from the Rockies eastward are under either an extreme warning or a cold weather advisory. A state of emergency has been declared, and many schools shut on Tuesday in Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
