Triangle Could See Wintry Mix On Thursday

The National Weather Service has issued winter weather advisories for parts of the WRAL viewing area, including Wake, Durham and Orange counties.

There is a 70 percent chance of precipitation on Thursday, when it's possible that freezing rain will fall in the morning and snow will fall in the afternoon. The weather service said that snow could accumulate to one inch in the Triangle. Little ice accumulation is expected.

The high Thursday will be in the mid-30s. Thursday night, it is possible that more snow will fall -- possibly mixed with rain. Little additional snow accumulation is expected.

The North Carolina DOT started Tuesday putting a salt brine mixture on roads to get ready for the snowfall.

Michael Evans, of Wake County schools, said if the area has flurries, schools will stay open. If it is ice, they will rethink the plan. Either way, he said it will be a tough decision.

"When we make a decision, it affects 59,000 students, 790 buses, 134 schools. It's a decision we don't take lightly, but it's one that's criticized on both sides of the fences," he said.

Snow is also expected elsewhere in the state with areas west of the Triangle under a winter storm watch. Accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are possible in the watch area.