Millions on US East Coast face major snowstorm

By Safvan Allahverdi

WASHINGTON (AA) - Nearly 70 million U.S. East Coast residents were hit Wednesday by the fourth massive storm in less than three weeks as schools and federal buildings shut and thousands of flights were canceled.

In the wake of the first day of spring, Winter Storm Toby, the fourth nor’easter this month, has brought strong winds and is expected to dump record springtime snow in the Northeast.

"Snowfall, heavy at times, from #WinterStorm #Toby will pivot into much of southern New England through early this evening," the U.S.-based Weather Channel said on Twitter, adding the storm is expected to affect the commute along the highway from Washington, D.C. to Boston.

According to meteorologists, Washington, D.C. is expected to see 4 to 6 inches of snow, with some models hinting at much higher totals. Areas to the west and north are likely to see close to 12 inches.

The storm, which has cancelled more than 4,700 flights and dumped 13 inches of snow in Pennsylvania and 9.2 inches in West Virginia, will move away from the region by Thursday.

New York is also among the states that have been crippled by the storm, getting 12-18 inches of snow. It has declared a state of emergency along with New Jersey.

Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said air travel in the New York City area will be "severely, severely affected by this storm".

Cotton said LaGuardia Airport had about 75 percent of its flights canceled and virtually all long-distance carriers at New York’s Port Authority bus terminal had cancelled their services.