The biggest winter storm in years is nearly on our doorstep.

Bay Staters are making their final preparations for this weekend’s nor’easter, as the region braces for up to 12 inches of snow and possible power outages.

A “Winter Storm Warning” has been issued for much of Massachusetts — the northeastern, central and western areas — from Saturday evening to Sunday night.

“That’s where our confidence is pretty high for 6 to 12 inches of snow,” Kyle Pederson, meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s office, told the Herald after NWS Boston issued the warning on Friday.

A “Winter Storm Watch” has been issued for the Boston to Providence corridor.

“That’s where we have medium confidence in 6-plus inches,” Pederson said. “There’s a chance for rain mixing in there.”

Forecasters are warning that travel will be hazardous from Saturday evening to Sunday night.

Snow is expected to overspread the “Winter Storm Warning” region from west to east roughly between 5 and 9 p.m. on Saturday. The snow will become heavy and fall at 1 to 2 inches per hour for a time Saturday night. Conditions should deteriorate quickly.

There may be a lull in the snow for a time early Sunday, but a second round of steady snow will redevelop later Sunday morning into Sunday afternoon. The snow should finally come to an end early Sunday evening.

“Just take the time to prepare on Saturday, and hunker down if you can,” Pederson said. “Don’t travel if you don’t need to on Sunday.”

When it comes to eastern Massachusetts, where meteorologists predict that heavier wet snow will fall, there will likely be a flash freeze Sunday afternoon.

Temps in the lower to middle 30s early Sunday will quickly drop into the 20s Sunday afternoon, resulting in a flash freeze and difficult travel.

“Wet roadways can freeze over,” Pederson said. “Travel will definitely be tough with the icy roads.”

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Wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph are expected in the interior, and 45 to 55 mph across Cape Cod and the Islands. Power outages will be more likely along the coast, and where the heavy, slushy, wet snow falls.

“Farther north and west, the snow should be lighter and fluffy, so power outages should not be as big of an issue,” Pederson said.

Eversource said the power company will have crews on standby this weekend to respond to any damage, and National Grid said they’re prepared for the winter storm.

No snow emergency is planned for the city of Boston, so it will be typical parking rules — and not a space saver situation.

“This has the potential to be a real storm for the city, but it does not look like it’s going be at the level of accumulation, at least as currently forecasted, where we would be concerned about having to close down streets or do a sort of blizzard-scale operation,” Jascha Franklin-Hodge, chief of streets for the city of Boston, said during a storm prep press conference on Friday.

“Our goal will just be to keep on top of the storm as it is happening, to keep streets clear and passable,” he said, later adding. “When there is weather like this, we ask that people use caution if they’re going out, that they drive carefully. Even with a slushy storm, it can be slippery, and so we just want everybody to be safe as we go about our business with keeping the streets open.”

Gov. Maura Healey on Friday was reminding residents to plan ahead and take care when traveling on the roads. It’s important that drivers clear snow and ice from their vehicles, and that motorists don’t crowd the plow or maintenance vehicles.

“Recognizing that we’re no strangers to snowy winters, I’m asking Massachusetts residents to take steps to protect yourselves and your loved ones by making sure your homes stay safely heated and traveling on roads with extra care,” Healey said in a statement. “Please also take some time to check in on your neighbors to make sure everyone stays warm and safe.”

Mayor Michelle Wu provided an update on the city’s storm preparations ahead of the weekend. (Libby O’Neill/Boston Herald)
The peak of the storm will be Saturday evening. Snow should become heavy quickly. (National Weather Service graphic)