A rare frigid storm is charging through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast, blanketing New Orleans and Houston with snow, closing highways and grounding nearly all flights.

A rare frigid storm charged through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast on Tuesday, blanketing New Orleans and Houston with snow that closed highways, grounded nearly all flights and canceled school for more than a million students more used to hurricane dismissals than snow days.

A snowstorm warning was in effect for 31 million people - from southern Texas east through Georgia and north to the Carolinas and into Virginia - until Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service said.

Wednesday will be the last of this Arctic blast with highs, similar to yesterday, in the upper teens to low 20s. A Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect.

A Cold Weather Advisory is set to take effect across Chicagoland from 9 p.m. Monday until noon Tuesday due to dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills. Lows tonight will plunge to -5 to -10 degrees,