A winter storm could dump up to 14 inches of snow on parts New York City, bringing along with it a blast of arctic winter weather that is expected to freeze the region for nearly a week.

Get the latest forecast and track the weather with our interactive radar here.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for New York City, Long Island and areas north and west of the city from noon Tuesday through Wednesday morning.

Mayor de Blasio said the city has activated all of its emergency preparation systems. Alternate side parking is suspended in New York City on Tuesday.

Snowfall will begin late Tuesday morning and will get heavier as the day progresses. In the afternoon and evening, snowfall will be as heavy as 1 to 2 inches per hour.

By the time it tapers off early Wednesday morning, between 10 and 14 inches of snow will be on the ground in the southern portions of Brooklyn and Queens, central and coastal New Jersey, and on Long Island, meteorologists estimate. Other parts of New York City and areas north of the city should see between 8 and 10 inches of accumulation.

The snowfall will be accompanied by lightning, bitterly cold winds gusting up to 30 mph and temperatures in the teens and single digits. It could feel as cold as 10 degrees below zero by Tuesday night.

The blowing and drifting snow will cause hazardous travel and walking conditions across the area. Drivers are urged to stay off the roads, and if they must travel, keep a flashlight, food and water in the vehicle in case of an emergency.

Just two weeks into 2014, the storm is the second to dump significant snow on the area and arrives just after a polar vortex brought record-shattering cold to the tri-state.

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