Millions of people across the northern Gulf Coast braced Tuesday for a rare winter storm that's expected to scatter heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain around the Deep South as a blast of Arctic air plunges much of the eastern U.

Around 40 million people in the U.S. are under a winter storm warning from an unusual blast of severe winter weather.

The beaches even may see a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain, the weather service said, with the mainly snow expected.

Writing this forecast as a snow lover feels like I’m writing weather fanfic, but the reality may be ones for the records books.

Snowfall forecasts have increased for a winter storm expected to blanket New Jersey with widespread areas of 4 to 8 inches of snow. Winter storm warning areas were expanded early Sunday and a state of emergency is in effect. National Weather Service and AccuWeather

On Monday at 2:03 p.m. the National Weather Service issued an updated winter storm warning valid from Tuesday 6 a.m. until Wednesday 6 a.m. for Lowndes, Montgomery, Macon, Bullock, Russell, Pike and Barbour counties.

A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from Monday night through Tuesday for the area. The wintry mix begins early Tuesday morning with snow across the northern tier, spreading south as temperatures fall below freezing throughout the day.