A winter storm is headed this way and some areas of the region could see up to 18 inches of snow by Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Early Monday, The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for Lake, Porter and Jasper counties in Indiana and Cook and Will counties in Illinois. The warning is in effect from 9 p.m. Monday to 10 a.m. Wednesday for Lake, Porter and Jasper and from 9 p.m. Monday to 4 a.m. Wednesday in Cook and Will counties. Newton and Benton counties are under a less severe Winter Weather Advisory for the same timeframe.

Lake, Porter and Jasper are expected to get heavy snow beginning Monday evening and continuing through Tuesday night, with accumulations reaching anywhere from 6 to 12 inches. But areas closest to Lake Michigan, especially northeastern Porter County, could get lingering lake-effect snows into mid-Wednesday, with total accumulations there ranging from 12 to 18 inches, forecasters said.

Travel is expected to be difficult by late Monday, with winds increasing to 20 mph. By late Tuesday into Wednesday morning, winds could reach 40 mph, creating the potential for severe blowing and drifting snow.

Strong winds could create ground blizzards and near white out conditions in rural areas late Tuesday into early Wednesday, making for hazardous travel.

Newton and Benton counties are expected to get 5 to 9 inches of light to moderate snow by Wednesday morning, but the potential remains for blowing and drifting snow and hazardous road conditions in that area as well.