(BIVN) – A Winter Weather Warning will be in place this evening for the summits of Hawaii Island, as the rest of the Big Island will be under a Flash Flood Watch.

A slow moving cold front will move down the island chain tonight through Wednesday, the National Weather Service in Honolulu says. Abundant moisture ahead of the front may result in the development of heavy showers and thunderstorms.

The Flash Flood Watch will be in effect from this evening through late Wednesday night.

The weather event is expected to bury the tops of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa in up to 2 feet of snow.

“Heavy snow expected,” forecasters stated. “Plan on difficult travel conditions. Total snow accumulations of 12 to 24 inches, with localized higher amounts expected.”

“The heavy snow will be accompanied by strong gusty winds at times, resulting in considerable blowing and drifting snow and significant reductions to visibility. Travel will become extremely hazardous if not impossible,” the National Weather Service said.

The road to the summit of Mauna Kea is already closed at the Visitor Information Station, rangers say, due to high humidity and below freezing temperatures causing icy road conditions.