Light snow possible Thursday

"We're not talking about a whole lot of snowfall," Maze said.

The state Department of Transportation crews began treating roads in Wake, Durham, Franklin, Warren Granville and Person counties with a brine solution on Wednesday.

On Thursday, temperatures are expected to reach the low 40s before crashing into the mid 20s overnight.

The warm, moist air might hang around long enough to meet up with a new blast of cold air. If that happens, there is a potential for snow Thursday evening.

Maze said the snow would stretch throughout the WRAL viewing area, bringing up to 1½ inches in some places.

The Triangle can expect a dusting of 1 to 1½ inches of snow to fall overnight Thursday, Maze said. Areas south of the Triangle would see a light dusting.

The snow should be over by 6 a.m. Friday.

With the ground being cold already, Maze said, the snow could cause a problem for drivers on Friday morning.

"We will have some slick spots on the road Friday morning," Maze said.

Friday is expected to be partly cloudy and cold.

Another blast of cold air is expected to push through just in time for the weekend.

WRAL chief meteorologist Greg Fishel said temperatures should start moving back toward the normal high for this year – about 50 degrees – by the middle of next week.

A water line beneath Nash Street in Wilson burst early Wednesday due to the cold weather, officials said.  The street was reopened after crews worked to fix the leak.

In Hope Mills, a water main break left Camden Road icy on Wednesday. The road was expected to be closed for most of the day.

Much of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia has been closed to motorists because of heavy accumulations of snow and ice as well as downed trees.

The National Park Service announced Wednesday that many sections of the roadway are blocked by gates, but also said that some portions of the road cannot be blocked to traffic and are hazardous.

Three counties in North Carolina and five in Virginia have sections that are not blocked and are either dangerous or impassable and should be avoided. The park service says it could take weeks to clear the road, especially at higher elevations because colder temperatures limit melting of ice and snow.

Drivers who use closed sections of the parkway are subject to either fines, citations or both.

With a prolonged cold spell this week, Meals on Wheels of Wake County volunteers said they are also helping their 1,500 clients stay warm.

"Sometimes, they may need help with their heating bill," Executive Director Alan Winstead said Wednesday. "They may need coaxing to turn their heat up because they're trying to stretch their dollar."

Winstead is urging others to check on their neighbors to make sure they are safe during this cold snap.

"You can just be a good neighbor and maybe just stop and check on them and see if they need anything during this extreme cold weather," Winstead said.