Extreme Winter Weather Hits New York and New Jersey

Updated: January 4, 1 P.M.

New York City officials are warning people to stay inside as a major winter storm bears down on the region.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency for the state, and JFK Airport has been closed.

The city's Department of Education has shuttering schools all day Thursday as the powerful nor'easter moves through the New York/New Jersey region. Many area schools are closed for the day.

At the same time, Mayor de Blasio is urging people not to drive and to minimize their time outside.

"Bottom line is to take this storm very seriously. Very cold temperatures — definitely a major amount of snow — could get to be a lot more. Wind gusts up to 40 miles-per-hour — this is serious stuff. Asking all New Yorkers to take precautions. Lookout for your neighbors as well," de Blasio said.

According to NBC New York's forecast, the storm could dump up to a foot of snow on the region starting around 1 AM Thursday morning. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning through early Friday morning.