A rare winter storm charging through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast has closed highways and airports and prompted the first blizzard warning for southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana.

Residents across parts of the Gulf Coast and South are bracing for a rare winter storm expected to drop heavy snow and create treacherous conditions, including freezing rain and sleet

Most cities in the region don't have snowplows. Louisiana had 400,000 pounds of salt ready to spread over roads and bridges in preparation for the icy conditions.