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.

While people prep their homes, NCDOT is prepping the roads. Crews were making brine to keep snow and ice from sticking to the road, treating less traveled roads Wednesday and more traveled ones as the snow gets closer. 14,000 tons of salt are ready to go for central North Carolina.

Governor Josh Stein has declared a state of emergency for North Carolina in anticipation of severe winter weather.

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,