RALEIGH — It's been an especially mild winter across much of North Carolina, but that may be coming to an end soon, at least in the western and northern parts of the state.

The National Weather Service says much of North Carolina is in for a dose of winter weather Sunday, with the prospect of snow in the mountains and the north central part of the state.

Weather service meteorologists say temperatures will struggle to reach 40 in many parts of the state, with the chance of an inch or more of snow near the Virginia state line in the Triad and Triangle areas.

Temperatures will be warmer in the Charlotte area and along the coast, but heavy rains are possible in those areas, including a chance of scattered thunderstorms.