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Forecasters raised their expectations for an approaching winter storm, saying Friday morning that 8 to 12 inches of snow could fall in the Triad and northern Piedmont.

Snow and sleet accumulations of 5 to 10 inches are expected in the Triangle.

The Triad will be under a winter storm warning through midnight Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Raleigh.

Precipitation is expected to spread over the warning area from the west southwest Friday evening, mainly after 8 p.m., and continue overnight and through the day Saturday before ending Saturday evening. The heaviest precipitation is expected to fall from 4 a.m. Saturday through 4 p.m. Saturday.

After precipitation begins Friday evening, temperatures are expected to remain near or below freezing through midday Monday.

Jim Collins, a spokesman for the city of Greensboro, said crews spent Thursday morning salting sidewalks, preparing equipment and putting employees on standby to work over the weekend if the snow does fall.

“They’re getting everything ready,” he said.

Guilford County Schools are closing two hours early Friday. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools has canceled all of tonight's and this weekend's athletic and extracurricular events.

Organizers say Saturday night’s gala for the International Civil Rights Center & Museum at the Koury Center will go on as scheduled.

The N.C. Zoo will be closed Saturday and Sunday because of expected inclement weather, and the N.C. High School All-State Chorus concert scheduled for Friday night at the Greensboro Coliseum has been canceled.

David Caldwell Historic Park will be closed Saturday.

Here's the National Weather Service forecast for Greensboro: 

Tonight: Snow. Low around 23. East wind between 8 and 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.

Saturday: Snow. High near 24. Northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Saturday night: A chance of snow before midnight. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 13. North wind between 10 and 13 mph becoming light. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 32. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph.

Sunday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 13.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 36.