On Tuesday at 3:18 a.m. an updated winter storm watch was issued by the NWS Raleigh NC valid from Wednesday 7 a.m. until Thursday 10 a.m. The watch is for Johnston, Moore, Lee, Harnett, Scotland, Hoke,

Winter weather is expected to have a significant impact on North Carolina and Virginia this week. This storm will be the latest in a series of storms to hit the area in February. Two days of freezing rain last week brought one-half to three-quarters of an inch of ice from the North Carolina mountains deep into central Virginia,

A storm on its way to the Carolinas could blanket much of N.C. with a thick layer of snow. Raleigh and Chapel Hill could get around 2 inches of snow, while up to 3 inches are expected in Durham between now and Thursday, The News & Observer reported.

Leading up to Wednesday’s winter storm, you’ve likely heard of several winter weather alerts issued from watches and warnings to advisories…so what do they all mean?

A winter storm watch issued for the Chicago area ahead of an upcoming snow system has now been upgraded to a winter weather advisory.

The NWS Blacksburg VA issued a winter storm watch at 2:44 p.m. on Monday valid from Wednesday 6 a.m. until Thursday noon. The watch is for Stokes, Rockingham and Caswell counties.

The NWS Newport/Morehead City NC issued an updated winter storm watch at 7:55 a.m. on Tuesday valid from Wednesday 7 a.m. until Thursday 10 a.m. The watch is for Mainland Dare, Mainland Hyde and Northern Outer Banks.

The National Weather Service issued an updated winter storm watch at 8:36 p.m. on Monday valid from Wednesday 6 a.m. until Thursday 6 p.m. The watch is for the Richmond

On Monday at 3:14 p.m. the NWS Raleigh NC issued a winter storm watch valid from Wednesday 7 a.m. until Thursday 10 a.m. The watch is for Person, Granville, Vance, Warren, Halifax, Forsyth, Guilford,