A blizzard is headed for Wareham, and the town is set to receive 24 to more than 30 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service’s forecast at 11:30 a.m. Friday. 

The storm is forecasted to begin late Friday night and last through midnight on Saturday. According to the NWS’s blizzard warning, travel could be extremely difficult to impossible. Snow could fall as quickly as two to four inches per hour at times, with near white-out conditions possible and considerable drifting and blowing snow. 

The National Weather Service warns that no one should be on the road except in an emergency. Those who must travel should bring a winter survival kit and, if stranded, stay in the vehicle.

The town’s snow parking ban will go into effect at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 28. Those in Onset who don’t have off-street parking can leave their car at the Onset Pier, in the Temple Lot at 9 Union Ave., or in Hynes Field. Vehicles or objects left in the public way will be subject to towing or removal at the owner’s expense.

The parking ban will remain in effect until roads are clear.

Town Administrator Derek Sullivan warned that due to staffing shortages at the Town’s Municipal Maintenance Department and the limited availability of private contractors, there may be some delay clearing roads during and after the storm. He asked residents to stay off the roads ifa t all possible to avoid interrupting snow removal efforts.

GATRA has suspended all services on Saturday and Sunday.

“Your patience is appreciated as we make the roads safe and passable to the public,” Sullivan said. 

Winds could gust as high as 60 miles per hour, which could cause tree damage. 

Eversource warned that the high winds could bring down trees and limbs onto lines and equipment, causing power outages. As the storm approaches, Eversource crews are being strategically placed to be ready to respond quickly and safely. 

People should always stay clear of downed wires, Eversource warned, and report them immediately by calling 911. To report an outage, go to eversource.com or call 800-592-2000. Those who signed up for the company’s two-way texting feature can send a text to report an outage and get outage updates.

Ahead of the storm, Eversource offered some preparedness tips: Assemble or restock a storm kit including essentials like flashlights, water, batteries, no-perishable foods, pet food, medications and other essentials. The company also recommends making sure all cell phones and other devices are charged, and suggests checking in with elderly neighbors and friends. 

The Wareham Fire Department reminded residents to prepare ahead of time so everyone can stay home throughout the storm. The Department reminded residents that 911 should only be used for emergencies. For non-emergencies, call the business number for Wareham Fire (508-295-2973), Wareham Police (508-295-1212) or Onset Fire (508-295-2122).

The Onset Fire Department reminded residents to keep hydrants clear. To make sure a hydrant is accessible to firefighters in case of an emergency, remove snow and ice to create enough room for firefighters to work — about a three-foot circle around the hydrant. Make sure there is a path to the hydrant from the street. 

Shellfishing will close at sunset on Friday as a precautionary measure ahead of the storm, and will remain closed until further notice.