Spring’s official first day, March 20, is less than two weeks away, but a winter storm is approaching.

Late-morning rain is to intensify, with temperatures to dip below freezing by afternoon, creating sleet and snow. Vicksburg was included in a snow advisory that begins at 3 p.m. and will last through midnight and into Saturday, the first day of spring break for public schools.

“Right now, we’re looking for total snow accumulation to be 2 inches or less for the Vicksburg area,” said meteorologist Latrice Maxie of the National Weather Service in Jackson. “Further north in Mississippi, there may be anywhere from 3 to 5 inches of snowfall.”

Warren, Hinds, Rankin and Madison counties are included in the advisory. Issaquena, Sharkey, Yazoo, Holmes and Humphreys counties are under a heavy snow advisory. Northern counties have been issued a winter storm warning.

“The front will most likely sweep east to west across the entire state,” said Maxie. “All counties in north and central Mississippi will likely receive some snow.”

A light snow fell here on the morning of Jan. 20, but melted by the afternoon.