A winter storm is expected to reach Massachusetts Sunday afternoon and dump up to 8 inches of snow in most of the state, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm is predicted to spread across the region between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., according to the weather service. The heaviest snow — which could fall as rapidly as 1 to 2 inches per hour — is expected to come down between 8 p.m. and midnight.

Most of Massachusetts is predicted to receive 6 to 8 inches of snow during the storm, but a select few communities may see 8 to 10 inches, according to the weather service. The bottom half of Norfolk County and the top halves of Bristol and Plymouth Counties are expected to get 4 to 6 inches of snow. The South Coast and inner Cape are predicted to get 2 to 4 inches, and the outer Cape and Islands are expected to get less than an inch to 2 inches.

Winter storm warnings have been issued for most of Massachusetts and will be in effect from 1 p.m. Sunday to 7 a.m. Monday. Travel is expected to be very difficult during this time, according to the weather service. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

The snow is predicted to taper off by 3 a.m., prior to the morning commute, according to the weather service. But untreated roads will remain snow-covered and slippery, and temperatures are expected to be well below freezing.

Highs on Sunday are predicted to reach the upper 30s and low 40s in most of Massachusetts and dip into the mid to lower teens overnight, according to the weather service. Highs on Martin Luther King Jr. Day are expected to reach the low to mid-20s amid mostly sunny skies in the morning.

There is a slight chance of snow in the afternoon and evening on Monday, between noon and 8 p.m., according to the weather service. The next two days are predicted to be sunny and cold, with highs in the mid-teens during the day and overnight lows in the single digits.