What will start as rainmaker, complete with a rumble or two of thunder, may end as late winter storm, complete with snow.

While most local weather watchers aren’t just yet predicting the overall impact of a mid-week storm that will intensify off the North Carolina coast, they are fairly sure that the northeastern portion of the state will see snowfall on Wednesday.

Just how much snow will fall hinges on the track of the storm.

According to an advisory sent late Monday afternoon by Brian Parnell, Northampton County Emergency Management Coordinator, there is an impending weather situation for the local area covering the time period of 12 noon on Wednesday to 8 a.m. on Thursday.

Parnell said the weather event is a strong low pressure system that will intensify off the mid Atlantic coast on

Wednesday through early Thursday. In advance of that system, widespread rain will begin to fall Tuesday afternoon and continue for roughly 24 hours. Rainfall is expected in the half-inch to three-quarter inch range.

“Snow will begin to mix with rain around noon on Wednesday, changing to all snow around 3 p.m.,” Parnell said. “The chance of snow is forecasted through 5 a.m. on Thursday with accumulation between a dusting to around one inch.”

However, depending on the track of the storm, the local area could witness more snow than expected. Parnell said that track is uncertain as of late Monday.

Strong gusty winds will also be possible with this storm. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph on Tuesday and even stronger gusts on Wednesday.

By the time the storm departs, look for clear skies Thursday night with a low in the upper 20’s. Friday and Saturday will see mostly sunny skies and highs in the low 50’s.