© 2026 ABC News

It's a #snowday in the nation's capital captured here by #GOESEast. @NWS_BaltWash reporting conditions will rapidly deteriorate this morning, with snowfall rates up to 2\" per hour over the next few hours in some areas, for our first full day of #Spring! pic.twitter.com/geBgnyulnV

— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) March 21, 2018

For one couple visiting Philadelphia from Oregon, the spring snowstorm is altering their vacation plans.

\"Everything’s closed,\" Chris told ABC News. \"We were planning on doing all the sightseeing but we can’t go in everywhere.\"

Jennifer added, \"It’s an adventure, so we’ll make the best of it.\"

Tonight's forecast

\"PHOTO:
NOAA
PHOTO: An image made by NOAA satellite shows a winter storm blanketing the Mid-Atlantic states, March 21, 2018.
>

Snowfall rates could reach 1 to 3 inches per hour from Philadelphia to New York City this afternoon and evening.

Winds may reach 35 mph which could lead to whiteout conditions on the roads.

By 7 p.m. today, the heavy snow will continue in Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia and New York. At that point, the snow will just be reaching Boston.

\"PHOTO:
ABC News
PHOTO: ABC News meteorologists predict that by 7 p.m., we will see the nor'easter moving up the coast, heavy snow continuing from Washington to New York and snow starting in Boston.
>

'If you don't need to be out this evening, don't go out'

\"PHOTO:
Lucas Jackson/Reuters
PHOTO: A pedestrian walks through a late season snow storm in New York City, March 21, 2018.
>
\"PHOTO:
Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
PHOTO: A worker shovels a sidewalk during the latest storm to hit the U.S. east coast, March 21, 2018, in Washington, DC.
>

\"Evening rush hour is going to be very, very difficult. At times, it's going to be very hard to see if you're out there on the roads,\" New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said today. \"We want to encourage all New Yorkers right now, if you don't need to be out this evening, don't go out.

\"If you are at work right now, try to leave early if you possibly can,\" he continued. \"Employers, try to let your staff out early because we expect from about 4 o'clock on the snow to start to accumulate very, very quickly -- that will create ... difficult conditions on the roads.\"

It's getting slippery out here. Plows heading onto the LIE pic.twitter.com/LrrcB7LXen

— Kristin Thorne (@KristinThorne) March 21, 2018

\"Welcome to spring!\" New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo joked at a news conference today.

Cuomo warned that the heavy, wet snow combined with high wind gusts could create major problems because the snow can sit on trees and power lines, and the strong winds may bring those trees and power lines to the ground.

Public schools in New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., are closed today.

Federal offices are also closed in D.C.

DC SNOW DAY: Snow falls on the White House as the fourth nor'easter slams the East Coast in recent weeks; the White House has cancelled the president's public events. https://t.co/MpfzoTtFZE pic.twitter.com/OzxjiIv57h

— ABC News (@ABC) March 21, 2018

Massive flight disruptions

Over 4,400 flights have been canceled, according to FlightAware.

\"PHOTO:
Nicolas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images
PHOTO: A person looks at a board showing many cancelled flights at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Va., March 21, 2018, as heavy snow hit the northeastern U.S.
>

With all four nor'easters together, the storms have caused more than 10,000 flight cancellations, creating the worst March for travelers in several years, according to FlightAware.

Happy spring our airport is covered in snow

A post shared by Ryan Cardone (@ryanc0989) on Mar 21, 2018 at 5:25am PDT

Our snow removal team at #EWR is hard at work. Although there is 3.3” of snow outside, our runways are clear. With weather conditions impacting airborne activity, travelers are urged to check the status of their flights. pic.twitter.com/Wl5qQqU9G2

— Newark Airport (@EWRairport) March 21, 2018

Just a bit snowy out at SDF and UPS Worldport. #avgeek #blizzard #Aviation pic.twitter.com/ykHn5Yr9xt

— Tom Rainey (@traineyjr) March 21, 2018

What's to come on Thursday

\"PHOTO:
ABC News
PHOTO: ABC News meteorologists predict that as the nor'easter exits the region, it will leave behind gusty winds and lingering snow on March 22, 2018.
>

The nor’easter will be fading on Thursday morning, leaving behind gusty winds across the Northeast and lingering snow in the Boston area.

Cape Cod will see high winds, large waves and possible coastal flooding during high tide.

Potential snow totals

\"PHOTO:
ABC News
PHOTO: ABC News meteorologists predict snow totals up to and possibly exceeding 12-inches in some areas.
>

Washington, D.C., may see up to 8 inches before the snow ends this evening. Higher amounts are expected north of the city -- Maryland and Virginia already have 6 to 12 inches.

In Philadelphia, 8 to 12 inches of snow is possible in the city and surrounding suburbs with the heaviest snow falling between 2 pm. and 6 p.m. today.

New York City may see 6 to 10 inches with the heaviest snow falling between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. today.

\"PHOTO:
Lucas Jackson/Reuters
PHOTO: Workers clean snow off a sidewalk in front of the Flatiron building during a late season nor'easter in New York City, March 21, 2018.
>

Eastern Long Island and eastern and central New Jersey could have 6 to 12 inches.

In Boston, 3 to 7 inches of snow is expected.

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