Dangerous below-freezing temperatures with even colder wind chills were also expected to last over much of the week in the region. Authorities say three people have died in the cold weather.

A winter storm sweeping across the south is now responsible for claiming several lives in a vehicle crash on an icy Texas highway. Schools are closed, snow is piling up and freezing temperatures are widespread as the storm tracks from Texas,

The heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain hitting parts of the Deep South came as a blast of Arctic air plunged much of the Midwest and the eastern US into a deep freeze.