The Grant County Sheriff's Department is urging that motorists not travel during the blizzard warning that runs until Thursday at midnight.

A Sheriff's Department news release says that the department will respond to calls but will prioritize calls and "response time to vehicle slideoffs could be substantially delayed."

"The Sheriff's Department is strongly encouraging citizens to not travel unless absolutely necessary, as travel conditions will quickly deteriorate, due to wind and snowfall accumulations," the release said.

People who become stranded are advised to call 911 and stay with their vehicle until help arrives.

Grant, Crawford, Richland and Vernon counties are under a blizzard warning until Thursday at midnight. Lafayette and Iowa counties are under a winter storm warning until Thursday at noon, and then a blizzard warning until midnight. Up to 18 inches of snow is predicted, accompanied by winds of 20 to 30 mph, with higher wind gusts.