Over 1,000 flights canceled as snow storm hits US East Coast

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- More than 1,000 flights were canceled in airports across the United States Wednesday as a snow storm hit the US East Coast, including major cities of New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

More than 700 flights scheduled to fly in or out of the three main airports that serve Washington D.C. were cancelled, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware.

Airlines called off about 300 flights to and from three main airports serving New York City, a CNBC report said.

Federal forecasters expect the Washington, D.C. area to receive up to 6 inches of snow Wednesday but that precipitation will change to ice and then rain, creating a messy evening commute.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency, effective 5 a.m. Wednesday, urging residents to drive with caution through the snow and freezing rain.

The National Weather Service has issued far-reaching winter storm warnings from Nebraska to Maryland.

"A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for the entire area with snow overspreading the area from SW to NE going through the afternoon and into the early evening," the service's New York office tweeted in a Wednesday morning update.

The National Weather Service said rain is expected through Friday morning across much of the Deep South as multiple rounds of rainfall will hit the areas. The agency said widespread flash flood watches are in effect for the region.

This season has already seen its share of unusually high snow totals around the United States, according to local media reports.