NYC prepares for its heaviest December snowfall in a DECADE: New Yorkers are warned to stay off the roads, COVID testing centers will shut and parents are told to prepare for schools to close as up to 14 inches is set to fall

New York City was on Tuesday preparing for its heaviest December snowfall in a decade with nor'easter expected to bring 14 inches Wednesday and up to two foot in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. 

Forecasters predict the storm will hit the Tri-State Area from tomorrow afternoon and will continue into Thursday morning. It could rival snowfall last seen in the Big Apple in 2010 when 20.1 inches fell in Central Park, records show.

Pictures taken by the DailyMail.com Tuesday show New Yorkers stocking up for the bad weather, buying shovels, salt and sleds. Up to 14 inches is forecast in the city by the National Weather Service. The last time Central Park saw snowfall to rival that was in 2010 when 20.1 inches fell. 

Mayor Bill de Blasio warned Tuesday that schools may close for in person learning Thursday but insisted remote classes would continue as officials confirmed COVID-19 testing centers will also shut from Wednesday afternoon. 

Drivers were also warned to stay off the roads from tomorrow afternoon. 

Accuweather meteorologist Tom Kine told The New York Post: 'It looks like the city is right on the border of a 12- to 18-inch zone. Snow will be heavy at times, and wind will pick up. It will be like a blizzard at times Wednesday night. Snow will be coming down at the rate of an inch or two an hour at times, which is a very heavy snow.'

The National Weather Service said Monday: 'Heavy snow possible. Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.' 

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The New York City Department of Sanitation under the Gowanus Bridge readies garbage trucks with plows in anticipation of a the storm forecast to hit the city Wednesday 

Pictures taken by the DailyMail.com Tuesday show New Yorkers stocking up for the bad weather, buying shovels

New Yorkers were on Tuesday seen stocking up for the bad weather, buying shovels, salt and sleds. Up to 14 inches is forecast in the city by the NWS. The last time Central Park saw snowfall to rival that was in 2010 when 20.1 inches fell

Up to 2 foot of snow could fall in Pennsylvania and New Jersey over the next two days, forecasters have warned 

Accuweather meteorologist Tom Kine told The New York Post: 'It looks like the city is right on the border of a 12- to 18-inch zone. Snow will be heavy at times, and wind will pick up. It will be like a blizzard at times Wednesday night. Snow will be coming down at the rate of an inch or two an hour at times, which is a very heavy snow'

The Sanitation Department has issued a snow alert which means restaurants and bars will have to stop outdoor dining, effective 2pm Wednesday. 

Restaurants were told on Friday that from Sunday they would not longer be able to offer indoor dining for at least two weeks. 

Mayor Bill de Blasio said: 'We understand each restaurant's in a different situation. The best of all worlds is when they have the ability to easily remove what they have built for outdoor dining. 

'For some that's a lot harder than for others. But we also want to be clear that when we expect major snow it's in their interest, in everyone's interest, to clear away as much of their equipment as possible to facilitate the snow cleaning and protect their equipment.'

The Sanitation Department has issued a snow alert which means restaurants and bars will have to stop outdoor dining, effective 2pm Wednesday. A restaurant in the city prepares for the storm Tuesday 

Home Depot in Chelsea; Hardware stores also have placed shovels and rock salt by the front door for tomorrow's snow

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Shoppers at Target on Tuesday in the Bronx, N.Y. A major storm is forecast for tomorrow bringing with it heavy snow

The Sanitation Department has issued a snow alert which means restaurants and bars will have to stop outdoor dining, effective 2pm Wednesday. Restaurants were told on Friday that from Sunday they would not longer be able to offer indoor dining for at least two weeks

Governor Andrew Cuomo said Monday: 'Forecasts are calling for this season's first major snowstorm in the Hudson Valley and points south, so it's once again time for New Yorkers to find their shovels.

'As the exact forecast becomes clearer over the next 24 hours, New Yorkers should not only monitor their local weather reports for updates, but start preparing their homes, their families and themselves for heavy snow as well.' 

AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said: 'All the ingredients are now coming together for our snowstorm, and I really don't see a way out of this for many cities across the Northeast.'

Eight states from North Carolina to Massachusetts have been issued winter storm watches and warnings by The National Weather Service. 

D.C. is expected to see 1 to 3 inches of snow; Baltimore 2 to 4 inches. Philadelphia could be buried under 4 to 8 inches by the time the storm passes. 

There are travel warnings also in place with forecasters predicting delays, school closures and power outages. 

AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda said: 'Significant power outages will be possible in the area where ice totals of 0.25 of an inch occur, but where mostly sleet falls -- with the tendency to bounce off elevated surfaces -- the risk of power outages will be lower.'

Long-range meteorologist Tyler Roys added: 'Overall, a chillier pattern looks to last until Christmas, so if any locales get around a foot or more of snow, it could be enough to last until Christmas.'

Nassau County executive Laura Curran said they are expecting 'blizzard-like conditions' Wednesday night into Thursday. Suffolk County executive Steve Bellone said they are facing 'a real hit' from the storm. 

Bellone added: 'This will be a major winter event, a major storm event. We are doing all that we need to prepare to make sure we are ready.'