The North Carolina Department of Transportation gave an update Thursday on their plans to help protect drivers from this weekend’s winter storm, which is expected to bring the first measurable snowfall to Mecklenburg County in three years.

HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) — Storm preparations are underway in Western North Carolina. Crews there are not only preparing for the chance of snow and ice on the roadways, but are still cleaning up from Hurricane Helene. At the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Henderson County Yard, crews have been preparing for a winter storm.

A winter storm watch was upgraded on Thursday to a winter storm warning for parts of North and South Carolina as a storm approaches the region. A winter storm was expected to reach the region by as early as mid-to-late morning on Friday,