Light snow is expected to start falling between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. in central NC Friday, from southwest to northeast. The wintry precip should start falling in Raleigh and the Triangle around 7 p.m. Friday, the Weather Service said.

The National Weather Service's Boston office said a winter storm is expected along the East Coast this weekend, but it is still possible that it could follow a more offshore track, which would not affect the Northeast.

▪ If the storm’s center tracks near the North Carolina coast — say, 50 to 100 miles off shore — that would allow for more sustained northerly winds over the Piedmont and a more prolonged period of snow there. The Coastal plan might see snow in that case, but along the coast it would be mostly rain.