BOSTON — It’s about time we get a classic snow storm around here.

Hopefully your local supermarket is stocked with enough milk, bread and eggs ahead of the biggest storm to hit the Boston-area in four years.

The National Weather Service’s Boston office is forecasting 12 to 18 inches of snow from Sunday into Monday.

NWS Boston has issued a “Winter Storm Watch” for Sunday morning through Monday evening.

The period of heaviest snow — a chance for 1-plus inch an hour — is expected from Sunday evening through the first half of the overnight.

“Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous,” NWS Boston posted in its watch. “Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning and evening commutes.”

NWS Boston cautioned that this forecast is expected to be refined as the models come into better focus over the next day, so residents should monitor the latest forecasts.

“Persons should delay all travel if possible,” NWS Boston added. “If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution and be prepared for sudden changes in visibility. Leave plenty of room between you and the motorist ahead of you, and allow extra time to reach your destination. Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns. Make sure your car is winterized and in good working order.”

The major storm will bring winter weather stretching from the southern plains through the Southeast before reaching New England by Sunday.

Forecasters will be closely tracking the chance for mixed precipitation on the South Coast overnight, potentially up into the South Shore of eastern Massachusetts. That could lead to lower snow totals there.

“We are just beginning to get into the reach of some high-resolution guidance which will shed more light on this, among other details, so check back periodically for updated snow forecast maps,” NWS wrote.

Whatever snow does fall isn’t going anywhere fast as a cold airmass remains over the Northeast next week — with highs in the teens and 20s.

AAA recommends travelers consider adjusting their travel plans to avoid driving during or immediately after peak periods of snowfall. Even if you think you can drive well in bad weather, AAA says it’s better to avoid taking unnecessary risks by venturing out.

Otherwise, driving in ice and snow requires an adjustment to driving habits:

•Remove snow and ice from vehicles before driving. This is critical for maximum driver visibility and to prevent blowing snow and ice from possibly blinding other drivers.

•Slow down. Always adjust your speed down to account for lower traction when driving on snow or ice. Curbing your speed provides you with more time to react.

•Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and avoid skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry and take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: it takes longer to slow down on icy roads.

•Increase your following distance. Allow five to six seconds of following distance between your vehicle and any vehicle in front of you. This space allows time to stop safely if the other driver brakes suddenly.

AAA also urges all drivers to keep a cold-weather emergency kit in their vehicles, complete with warm clothing, blankets, extra water and food, extra chargers, an ice scraper and any medications they may need in the event of an emergency.

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