A winter storm watch has been issued for much of North Carolina, including the Charlotte area, as the state prepares for snow later this week. The watch will go into effect in most counties on Friday morning and will last through Saturday morning.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is expected to give an update Thursday morning on their plans to protect people from this weekend’s winter storm.

CHARLOTTE — North Carolina General Assembly members have been sworn into office. They will not be on hiatus for the next three weeks before officially starting session. New members include Woodson Bradley, the state senator for Matthews and south Charlotte, and North Mecklenburg House Representative Beth Helfrich.

Officials with the North Carolina Department of Transportation discussed preparations for this week’s snow as the weather system nears. Engineers answered questions and talked about measures being taken to keep roadways safe.

A strong winter storm will push across the country over the coming days, bringing numerous impacts. We continue to track the latest with the system, including new watches, and the potential for all types of precipitation.