Most of North Carolina can expect winter weather to start the weekend.
 

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for most of the state until late Friday night or early Saturday.
 

Many schools in central North Carolina plan to let students go home early before the storm.
 

Forecasters say up to 4 inches of snow is possible at the higher elevations of the northwestern mountains around Boone.
 

Only 1 or 2 inches of snow and sleet were expected elsewhere.
 

Snow, sleet and freezing rain was expected to start around midday Friday. There was no rain, sleet or snow falling in the state Friday morning.
 

The state transportation department warned that icy road conditions were expected and urged drivers to use caution.