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.

Heavy snow is expected to blanket large portions of the Eastern U.S. while much of the country will endure dangerously cold temperatures in the coming days.

A former New York City police sergeant died from an apparent drowning while surfing in Long Island’s frigid waters on Sunday.

Jack Shapiro, 54, of Holbrook was identified as the victim after being pulled to shore by a bystander off the coast of Gilgo Beach just after 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19.