Winter storms of this magnitude are rare along this 1,500-mile corridor, where winter storm warnings, watches and advisories are widespread. Travel will grind to a halt in the Deep South as snow accumulates in cities that don’t often use snowplows.

Parts of the U.S. Deep South are experiencing a deep freeze as a major winter storm takes hold. Some regions could witness the most snow they’ve seen in living memory, including New Orleans, La., where a state of emergency has already been declared.