A rare winter storm along the Gulf Coast and the Southeast left record snow and freezing temperatures, leading to closed highways, thousands of canceled flights and reports of deaths. Two people who were outside died in Austin,

A winter storm was on a track to sweep through Texas and Louisiana, across the Gulf Coast and deep into Florida, significant snow and ice in tow.

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