Several inches of snow is forecast for the first day of spring in the northeastern U.S., meteorologists said Friday.

The National Weather Service said parts of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania may receive as much as 6 inches (15.2 centimeters) of snow on March 21, the beginning of astronomical spring.

"The calendar now says late March along with the official arrival of spring, but Old Man Winter is determined to show who's boss for a little longer," the agency said in a statement.

Saturday's winter storm, named Ultima, will follow a harsh U.S. winter dominated by record-breaking snowfall totals and extreme cold that forced northeastern cities to close schools and businesses on dozens of occasions.

Unlike the snow events earlier in the winter season, however, meteorologists expect Saturday temperatures will be in the low to mid 30s ºF (-1 to 1 ºC).

"Most of the accumulation is expected on grassy and forested surfaces," the National Weather Service said.

Senior AccuWeather.com meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said poor visibility and deicing operations may lead to airline delays and flight cancellations from Washington to Boston, with the greatest impact expected in Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York City.

The storm system is expected to move to the easternmost parts of Massachusetts into the Atlantic Ocean, thus preventing it from turning into a bona fide nor’easter.