A winter storm warning is in effect for much of Eastern North Carolina, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters say that snow and heavy rains are possible Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

The precipitation is likely to start as rain or a mix of rain and snow then gradually transition to snow late Wednesday night, according to the warning. Coastal areas are not expected to see a transition to snow until daybreak Thursday.

The heaviest snow will coincide with Thursday morning rush hour, according to the NWS. The snow is expected to end by Thursday morning.

The warning remains in effect from 10 p.m. Wednesday to 11 a.m. Thursday.

Counties affected by the warning include:

* Beaufort
* Carteret
* Craven
* Duplin
* Eastern Dare
* Eastern Hyde
* Greene
* Jones
* Lenoir
* Martin
* Onslow
* Pamlico
* Pitt
* Tyrrell
* Washington
* Western Dare
* Western Hyde