Preparations are underway from Houston to Atlanta as a rare winter storm sets its sights on the southern U.S., where it's expected to bring a messy mix of heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain that could have a major impact on travel and daily life.

The Arctic blast that is hitting the U.S. will sweep through parts of Texas with one forecaster predicting large snowfalls, and a map by Newsweek shows the hardest hit areas. A forecast shows "significant snow" across the southeast of the Lone Star State in the coming days,

A winter storm that is expected to begin in Texas next week could end up bringing snow and ice to parts of Florida.