New York, your snow day has arrived.
Predictions for today's storm were so dire that officials canceled school and grounded flights hours before the first flakes even fell, sending the city into emergency mode as the behemoth blizzard inched closer to Gotham.
"This will probably shut down East Coast cities for the next couple of days," meteorologist Jim Rouiller said Tuesday. "This is definitely going to be one for the record books."
The first flakes fell on Central Park on and off starting around 10 p.m. Tuesday night, but the worst of the storm is expected this afternoon.
Winds howling at 40 mph or more are expected to create whiteouts and paste the city with at least a foot of snow. The outer boroughs and suburbs could get more.
"When the winds start to kick up, there's going to be zero visibility," said Andrew Ulrich of AccuWeather. "It's going to be really bad - it looks terrible for the city."
The blizzard should stop some time tonight, but the digout could take days, Mayor Bloomberg warned.
"I urge you to have at home milk, flashlights and anything else you might need if you can't get out and don't have electricity," Bloomberg said.
Sanitation workers began 12-hour shifts Tuesday night, preparing 365 salt spreaders and 1,600 plows. Bloomberg said he'll deploy nearly 5,000 workers to clear the streets and get the city back to normal.
"I'd rather be on the safe side, erring on the side of being safe, than sorry," he said.
Bloomberg begged commuters not to drive and instead to rely on the subway, which should run normally in most areas. Buses will be equipped with chains and will run their normal routes unless they absolutely can't.
The Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad likely will have big delays. Riders are urged to check online for service updates before they leave for a train.
Continental Airlines, Newark Liberty International Airport's largest carrier, canceled all of its 400 flights Tuesday night. Earlier, Southwest Airlines announced across the board cancellations. Other airlines were expected to follow suit today.
"Basically, many, many flights will likely be canceled at all the airports," said Ron Marsico of the Port Authority. "If you've got a flight on Wednesday, call your airline first."
Those who have to work through the storm were dreading the day and praying for predictions to be wrong.
"I'm ready to get the phone call that I have to come in early to shovel," said Manhattan doorman Kenneth Bisuttil, 44. "I don't like snow. It just gets in the way."
Many hardware stores ran out of snow shovels Tuesday morning, despite being fully stocked in anticipation of last week's underwhelming storm.
"I heard the weatherman say, 'No doubt it's coming,' then the rush started," said Rich D'elia, manager of Lowe's in Gowanus, Brooklyn.
"We were loaded with shovels; now nothing is left," he said.
Those with the luxury of staying home were excited to relax or spend the day playing with their kids.
"Finally! We are superexcited," said Katherine Von Jan as she picked up her kids at Public School 142 in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. "We'll stay home and have hot chocolate. I've been disappointed this whole winter because we hardly got any snow."
"This is the best news - no school!" said Andre Neipris-Gross, 8. "We're going to go sledding."
"It's great for my family," said his mother, Ellen Neipris. "We can always use a break from school to go play."