Americans on the East Coast have been bracing themselves for a record snowstorm Monday, after the National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for “historic” and “life-threatening” snowfall. 

Up to 36 inches (3 ft.) of snow is predicted to fall in parts of New England over the next day, bridging multiple states, according to the latest projections. The highest level of snowfall is due to hit the New York City area and Boston; storm warnings have been issued from Maryland to parts of Canada, according to CNN – and may affect up to 58 million people. 

In the New York City area, where snow hysteria has snowballed, the Weather Service has prepared a map of snowfall by district. Projected numbers are for Monday only. 

“I want everyone to understand that we are facing – most likely – one of the largest snowstorms in the history of this city,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio stated Monday. “My message to all New Yorkers is prepare for something worse than we have seen before,” de Blasio said. “Don’t underestimate this storm.”

NYC’s last record blizzard, some 26.9 inches, was in 2006. To prepare, several major roads have been closed, including the Long Island Expressway and I-84. 

According to Flightaware.com, a total of 3,400 flights scheduled over the next 48 hours have been cancelled ahead of the storm. Major US airlines are already offering free rebookings for stranded passengers. 

Photos uploaded to social media show New Yorkers rushing to stock up on supplies ahead of what is widely anticipated to become a multiple-day shutdown of the metropolis. 

But while New York is reeling, Bostoners are more prepared for the onslaught. 

“Our city has been through blizzards before and I am confident we are prepared,” Mayor Marty Walsh stated on the City of Boston’s website. Residents told CNN that they expect a major snowstorm every year. 

Boston has 700 pieces of snow-fighting equipment and 35,000 tons of salt available to battle the storm, according to the Boston Herald, with 4,000 pieces of equipment and 250,000 tons of salt allocated across the state of Massachusetts.

But, despite the snow frenzy, the snowbound have also maintained a high sense of humor – creating a number of spoofs of the situation on Twitter, under the hashtag #blizzardof2015.