A historic winter storm is expected to bring rare heavy snowfall and ice to states along the Gulf Coast and could impact as many as 55 million people through midweek, according to national

The amount of snow the Gulf Coast States received makes this weather system the worst winter storm in over 120 years. Before 120 years ago, record keeping was unreliable or not recorded at all.

A rare winter storm churned across the U.S. Gulf Coast on Tuesday, breaking snowfall records more than a century old in a southern region where flurries are unusual, as much of the United States remained in a dangerous deep freeze.