Spring blizzard hits the northeast

A large snowstorm has hit the northeastern United States this Wednesday, on the first official day of spring.

This is the fourth noreaster to hit the US in the last 15 days. Weather forecasters have predicted up to 18 inches of snow from Philadelphia to New York. Schools have closed in several states including New Jersey and Indiana, and New York called a state of emergency. The federal government was forced to close for the day.

Over 4,000 flights around the world were delayed or cancelled to the area and travel has been icy and dangerous. The storm has been linked to at least one death in New York where a crash killed one and injured five others.

The winter weather has put almost 75 million people under alerts from Indiana to Maine. NBC news meteorologist Sherri Pugh said “Travel will be impacted because of the heavy, wet nature of the snow, so anyone trying to shovel out a driveway will feel like they’re shoveling cement… Some people may have arrived to work this morning but may have trouble leaving. New York City is just now getting in the thick of it.”

The first lady, Melania Trump, shared in the wintry day, tweeting out a view of the White House blanketed in snowfall saying “Snow Day.”