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At 3:34 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9, the National Weather Service issued a winter weather watch for Beaufort County and surrounding counties in eastern North Carolina.

The winter storm watch will be in effect from Friday afternoon (Jan. 10) through Saturday morning (Jan. 11).

Beaufort County residents can expect “Heavy mixed precipitation possible. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to one inch and ice accumulations around one tenth of an inch possible,” NWS reported. Roads will be impacted, especially at bridges and overpasses, because they will likely become slick and hazardous. “Ice accumulation on power lines and tree limbs may cause widespread and long-lasting power outages. Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Friday evening commute.”

Greatest ice accumulations are expected inland which includes Martin, Pitt, Greene and Lenoir Counties.