LUMBERTON — While most of North Carolina braces for a wintry mix of weather, Robeson County should only experience moderate to heavy amounts of rain today and on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

“People need to be cautious,” said Dave Lowenthal, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. “With the inch or more of rain we should receive, there will be ponding on the roads. You need to slow down so you don’t hydroplane.”

The rain is expected to arrive this afternoon and hang around through Saturday, leaving as much as 2 inches, according to Lowenthal. The temperatures are expected to hover between the mid-40s and mid-50s so no frozen stuff is expected.

“The temperatures should not dip low enough to cause ice to form,” Lowenthal said. “People who live near bodies of water should be cautious because the levels will swell this weekend.”

A winter storm warning was in effect in the mountains of western North Carolina, where about 1 inch of snow, sleet and freezing rain was expected. A freezing rain advisory was in affect for higher elevations around Asheville with light ice accumulations expected. Snow and freezing rain was falling along the North Carolina-Virginia state line early today.

A winter weather advisory was also in effect around Greensboro, Hickory, Statesville, Salisbury, Winston-Salem, Raleigh and Durham. Snow, sleet and freezing rain was expected. Many schools planned to open three hours later than usual.

In the Greenville area, light freezing rain and sleet was expected.