The East Coast of United States is currently facing Winter Storm Toby, the fourth nor’easter in less than three weeks. The snowfall is not really welcome during the spring season and it has ravaged some areas. Heavy snowing, strong winds, and coastal flooding is affecting parts of the states. Not one but three Nor’easters have hit the East Coast over the last two weeks and it is so severe that can become one of the most disruptive snowstorms in the season.

The Weather Channel has said winter storm Toby is not as dangerous as the previous ones in the months earlier but it can bring in more snow in major cities. Toby had already caused a havoc in parts of Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky. Winter storms also affected Philadelphia, Boston and New York and snowfall in those areas is predicted to be the heaviest. Some schools even announced they'd be closed in preparation for the storms. Airlines too canceled flights due to the approach of bad weather. About 4,800 flights have been canceled. More than 70 million people are under a winter storm watch, warning or advisory from the Appalachians to Boston.

What is a Nor'easter? 

We commonly hear of the term nor'easter in weather reporting. It refers to a macro scale cyclone and gets its name from the direction of the winds. The strongest winds hit the eastern part of the northern hemisphere. Hence a strong area of low pressure is created along the East Coast of the United States. Snow fall is not necessarily a feature in such a storm. But they cause coastal flooding, coastal erosion and blizzard conditions. They are strongest between September and April but can occur at any time of the year.

They are different from tropical cyclones in regards to the temperatures. Tropical cyclones are due to warm temperatures, but nor'easters thrive on cold air.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 23, 2018 10:57 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).