As North Carolina braces for a potentially impactful winter storm expected from Wednesday to Thursday, officials are urging the public to prepare for adverse weather conditions. A wintry mix including snow and ice is forecasted for various regions, notably central and mountain areas. Towns like Cary are making preparations, while weather alerts have been issued across multiple counties. The National Weather Service has advised residents to expect dangerous travel conditions due to potential ice and snow accumulation. The winter storm could also disrupt local sports events, including basketball and wrestling postseason activities. Preparations are further complicated by recent reports of power outages in some mountain counties due to icy conditions.