We are now under a winter storm warning, indicating a more serious chance of snow.

..WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM WEDNESDAY TO 7 AM EST THURSDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SNOW WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM WEDNESDAY TO 7 AM EST THURSDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* LOCATIONS…FOR MOST OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA…INCLUDING ROWAN COUNTY.

* HAZARDS…ACCUMULATING SNOW ON HIGHWAYS THAT WILL CAUSE HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

* TIMING…RAIN AND SNOW WILL DEVELOP ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA LATE WEDNESDAYAFTERNOON AND THEN QUICKLY SPREAD EAST ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING.

* ACCUMULATIONS…SNOW IS EXPECTED TO ACCUMULATE 3 TO 6 INCHES ACROSS A LARGE PORTION OF THE REGION

* IMPACTS…HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS DUE TO SNOW ON HIGHWAYS.

* TEMPERATURES…FALLING TO AROUND 30 OUTSIDE THE MOUNTAINS WITH MID 20S IN THE MOUNTAINS.

* WINDS…EAST 5 TO 10 MPH.

* VISIBILITY…LESS THAN ONE MILE IN THE HEAVIEST SNOW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL…KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT… FOOD…AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

11:15 a.m. The winter storm watch for Wednesday night and into Thursday now predicts Rowan County will be in an area likely to get a higher total accumulation of snow as a low from the Gulf meets cold, Arctic air.

Predictions for accumulation are now around 6 and a half inches of snow, revised up from 3-5 inches.

What is this stuff outside — a winter wonderland?

Not so much. Schools are closed and numerous accidents have been reported along Interstate 85, north and southbound, and around the county.

We are under a winter weather advisory until noon today, and if that’s not enough, we will be under a winter storm watch Wednesday at 6 p.m. to Thursday at 6 a.m.

That will be updated as time moves forward

It’s 26 degrees at 7:30 a.m., and the snow is falling lightly, but side streets and other surfaces are covered. Innes Street is mostly water with more traffic than side streets. Plows are scraping Main Street in Salisbury.

Snow is likely today, mainly before 1 p.m. The high will be only 32 degrees. The chance of snow is 70 percent. Accumulation will be around one-half to 1 inch. Tonight’s low will be 24.

Expect patchy fog tomorrow morning before 8 a.m., then it will be partly sunny with a high near 42.

The winter weather returns Wednesday night, with rain and snow before 10 p.m., then mostly snow. The low will be 30 degrees. Chance of precipitation will be 60 percent, with accumulations of up to 5 inches possible.

A low is moving up from the Gulf of Mexico, and cold air is moving down, a combination that often produces snow in our area.

Thursday brings a 30 percent chance of more snow before 2 p.m., then a mix of rain and snow, then rain, with a high near 40. Thursday night has a 20 percent chance of snow before midnight, with a low around 26.

No mention of snow or rain for Friday — it could be partly sunny, with a high near 39. The low will be a cold 21 degrees.

Saturday will be partly sunny with a high near 40 and a low around 25.

Sunday, we have a 30 percent chance of rain, with a high near 49 and partly sunny skies. Sunday night has a 40 percent chance of rain with a low around 36.

Monday, too, has a 40 percent chance of rain, but with a warm high of 57 degrees.

Winter is the gift that keeps on giving.