The first storm of 2014 smacked the Big Apple on Friday morning,  shuttering  schools, airports and  highways — and forcing the city’s new mayor to bust out a snow shovel in front of his Brooklyn home.

Bill de Blasio honed his man-of-the-people image by rolling up his sleeves for the manual labor his Park Slope pad, just hours after Winter Storm Hercules dumped six inches of snow and brought winds as high as 25 miles per hour.

“I urge all New Yorkers don’t lift with your back, lift with your knees. That’s my helpful tip,” de Blasio said, demonstrating his shoveling technique.

“I’ve lived in this house for 13 years, and I’ve shoveled this walk more times than I can count. So I have very particular high standards … I grew up in a very snowy part of the world, so it comes in handy. I’m used to it,” he said.

The storm forced public schools to close and highways such the Long Island Expressway to shutter from midnight until 8 a.m. Snow tapered off on Friday morning – but temperatures dropped 11 degrees with a wind chill of -4 degrees.

Hundreds of airport flights were canceled, including more than 190 at LaGuardia, 120 at JFK and 247 at Newark Liberty.

JFK and LaGuardia airports were closed due to the arctic blast but Newark stayed open — hosting a throng of stranded travelers.

“It’s been a big headache,” said Craig Gherst of Alberta, Canada, who was stranded for 12 hours.

“I was supposed to be on a 924 flight last night time Denver that was canceled. I was on standby for three different flights…I went and stayed with a friend and now I’m back trying to get a ticket,” he said.

But the subway system was smooth sailing, for the most part, according to the MTA.

“We are currently seeing good service with minimal impacts but will keep a close watch on the forecasts and field reports throughout the region…Those who have to travel should monitor the news and check with mta.info before heading out this morning,” “Gov. Cuomo said in a statement.

At de Blasio’s home, his son Dante also helped with the shoveling.

“Dante gets part two — he gets the front walk here and he gets all the snow that comes after me. ‎So he’s gonna have plenty to do,” the mayor said.

He added, “‎I think the city agencies are doing a hell of a job [with  the storm]… I especially want to thank the Sanitation Department… The minute it was time to roll out the plows, there were 1,700 trucks out. It’s been an incredible effort.”

But some Queens residents fired back, saying the city should have done more to plow side streets north of 14th Avenue.

“I expected better but this is the forgotten area anyway. We’re always the last to get plowed out… I would say if they started last night, they should’ve had some side streets plowed by now,” said Tony Genovese, 44.

John Hauff , 55, a carpenter  from Queens added, “None of the side streets have  been plowed but at least they’re navigable.”

A storm warning is in effect until 1 p.m. on Friday, de Blasio said in a statement.

“New Yorkers need to be extremely careful going outdoors. The best things people can do are to stay off the roads so we can clear them as fast as possible, and to check in on elderly and vulnerable neighbors who might need help,” de Blasio said.

Government offices remained open on and few New Yorkers lost power.

“PSE&G storm update – the storm has had little impact on our electric system. At this time, 30 customers are out,” the agency tweeted.