New York City is without public transportation this morning and non-emergency vehicles are banned from the roads in an unprecedented response to what's quickly become known as the Blizzard of 2015.
By midnight the storm had dumped almost half a foot of snow on Central Park, with more than six inches accumulating at La Guardia Airport.
NY1 meteorologist John Davitt says he expects the storm to drop 12 to 18 inches or more on the city by morning, with the National Weather Service calling for up to 30 inches of accumulation.
The biggest snowfall ever recorded in New York City was 26.9 inches on February 11, 2006.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Port Authority shut down all transit operations to the public at 11 p.m., and non-emergency vehicles are currently banned from city roads as a result of the storm.
Included in the shutdown are all subways, buses, Metro-North trains, Long Island Rail Road trains and PATH trains, making this the first time that the entire subway system has been closed to the public due to snow – although many trains are continuing to run empty to keep the tracks clear.
Officials say it's unlikely subway service will be restored in time for the morning commute.
"Let's see when the storm stops, and we'll start cleaning up the system," said MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast. "And we'll work as fast as we can to be able to restore the service, but right now, we're telling people don't count on us for that time period."
The system was previously shut down during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
On the streets, the vehicular traffic ban has left roads deserted except for plows and official vehicles. Authorities say non-emergency vehicles caught out on the roads will be issued a summons and given a fine of up to $300.
The bulk of the snow is expected to arrive before 10 a.m. Tuesday, although the National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning through Tuesday at midnight.
Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia says crews will face 2 to 4 inches of snow per hour at times.
Public schools will be closed Tuesday, all canceled regents exams have been rescheduled for Thursday. Those regents include Global History and Geography, Integrated Algebra, Comprehensive Testing in Writing and Mathematics for special education students.
The Archdiocese of New York says its schools in the boroughs of Manhattan, Bronx and Staten Island will also be closed on Tuesday.
All CUNY schools will be closed Tuesday, though essential employees are expected to go to work.
The city has deployed 15 homeless outreach teams and is encouraging homeless New Yorkers to go to shelters during the storm. The shelters will be open to anyone who might be left stranded in the snow.
New Yorkers are urged to call 311 for help, and 911 only in the case of life threatening emergencies.
The Visiting Nurse Service of New York is checking in on the homebound to make sure they have enough medication, water, blankets, batteries, and non-perishable food for a few days.
They say that seniors are at epecially high-risk for dehydration when the heat is turned on high.
Those in need of assistance can contact the Visiting Nurse Service of New York at 1-800-675-0391 or at vnsny.org.
Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency for all New York City counties ahead of the storm, National Guardsman were stationed throughout the city and Long Island.
The governor urged New Yorkers to put their safety first and avoid traveling on city roads and highways, adding that it is "not an evening or night to be out."
All Port Authority bridges closed at 11 p.m. Monday and will remain so until further notice.
Both the governor and mayor warned everyone not to underestimate the power of the storm.
The city Office of Emergency Management says all agencies have increased their staffing for the blizzard conditions, including 311 and 911 operators. OEM says they are not expecting any flooding immediately after the storm since the temperatures will be in the 20s when it stops.
They also advise construction companies to stop their work until the storm passes for safety precautions.
The mayor says 2,400 employees who will work around the clock on 12-hour shifts and the city will deploy more than 1,000 snow plows.
He says the storm is unpredictable but he urges people to stay off the roads because of conditions he says will be "treacherous."
The city closed all city parks as of 6 p.m.
Courts will be closed Tuesday in New York City and on Long Island, as well as in Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties.
Alternate side parking is suspended through Wednesday. Garbage and recycling collections will also be suspended.
Anyone with a heat or hot water problem should call 311.
At area airports, more than 4,000 flights were canceled on Monday. All flights at LaGuardia are canceled Tuesday, and there will be only limited service at JFK.
Nearly every major airline in the U.S. and Canada is waiving change fees for customers flying to the Northeast. The details vary by airline, with most allowing passengers flying to or through the Northeast to make one itinerary change without paying the standard change fee.
Air travelers should check with their individual carrier before heading to the airport.
Amtrak is warning riders about possible service disruptions. To check on your reservation and any service changes, call 800-872-7245 or go online to www.amtrak.com.
A list of some weather-related closings can be found here.
The snow postponed both the Knicks game at Madison Square Garden and the Nets game at Barclays Center on Monday. The Knicks game has been rescheduled for March 3, while the Nets game is rescheduled for April 6.
All Broadway shows were canceled for Monday night, as were performances at Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera.