ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — There’s a winter storm coming. But the big question now is what the precipitation will be.

According to the National Weather Service, wintry weather is likely for parts of the area on Wednesday as a fast-moving low-pressure system passes across the Southeast. However, the forecast models vary on the precipitation. The European Model shows a significant snowfall event, while the Global Forecast System calls for more mixing.

Tuesday looks to be sunny and dry. Conditions are expected to change Tuesday night into Wednesday as moisture begins increasing ahead of a Gulf low, the National Weather Service said. The issue remains the amount and depth of cold air and the amount of moisture.

The National Weather Service statement said it is holding off on issuing watches because of the uncertainty.

Precipitation may begin as snow or a rain/snow mix for the Interstate 85 corridor with mainly snow for the I-40 corridor into the northern mountains and high elevations of the rest of the mountains. As a warm nose develops, precipitation is expected to change to rain for the I-85 corridor and sleet/snow for I-40, the National Weather Service said. Mainly snow will continue for the northern mountains and high elevations of the rest of the Western North Carolina mountains.

Given the complicated scenario, the National Weather Service is calling for 1 to 2 inches of snow for the I-40 corridor dropping to half an inch or less for the I-85 corridor and a dusting at best to the south. For the North Carolina mountains, generally an inch or less for the central and southern valleys and 1 to 2 inches for the northern valleys with 2 to 4 inches for the higher elevations.

The forecast, according to the National Weather Service:

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 50. Calm wind becoming south-southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 29. Calm wind.
Wednesday: Rain and snow, becoming all rain after 4 p.m. High near 39. Calm wind becoming east-southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.
Wednesday night: A chance of snow before midnight, then a slight chance of snow showers between midnight and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 28.
Thursday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 11.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 40.
Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19.