Central and Southside Virginia are bracing for what could be a major winter storm on Friday and Saturday — one that the National Weather Service (NWS) says could produce “moderate to heavy snow accumulations.”

According to the NWS, snow is forecasted to begin falling after 1 a.m. Friday morning and could continue through Saturday across the area.

“Since we have almost a week to prepare, we’ll meet with the director of public works,” Prince Edward County Administrator Wade Bartlett said, “and traditionally, what happens is, we’ll make sure all of our equipment is running, we’ll make sure we have enough salt, that our hydraulics are working for our snowblades, and then we just sit and wait and see what happens.”

He said VDOT is responsible for the county’s roads. “Our responsibility is mainly around the courthouse and some of the properties that we own, to include our dump sites. …”

“We’re going to get all our plows and chemicals [ready], but we’ll be ready for it,” Farmville Town Manager Gerald Spates said. “We’re in good shape. We’ll be ready for it.”

“A complex story system will affect the region from late Thursday night through Saturday,” the NWS said in a statement on its website. “Uncertainty remains high regarding the track of the system, but the potential exists for significant winter impacts from this storm.”

Lows are predicted to dip to 26 degrees, and highs will be in the mid 30s, according to the NWS.

“All of the midday weather models still show huge snowstorm likely for most of the middle Atlantic region that begins on Friday and continues Friday night into most of Saturday,” said independent forecaster Dave Tolleris of Wxrisk.com “The various weather models are producing massive amounts of snow for many areas of the middle Atlantic region. …”

In preparation of winter storms, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management encourages filling up gas tanks of vehicles, thoroughly checking and updating your family’s emergency supply kit, storing wood if using a fireplace or wood stove and keeping pets inside.

“During a snow emergency, stay off the roads to allow emergency crews uninterrupted access to treat the roads, and if you must travel, allow extra time,” the National Weather Service website stated.