A winter storm was sweeping across a large portion of the US on Thursday, bringing snow, ice and rain to several states in the Midwest and Northeast.

Winter weather advisories and ice storm warnings are in effect for some areas. Here's difference in weather safety terms: warnings, watches, advisory

Thursday’s sloppy morning precipitation has come and gone, but a Winter Storm Watch is already in place for our next round of wintry weather on the way this weekend. For snow lovers, this could be a good one!

Meanwhile, a swath of the Central and Eastern U.S. was under winter weather advisory, which the NWS issues "for any amount of freezing rain, or when 2 to 4 inches of snow (alone or in combination with sleet and freezing rain), is expected to cause a significant inconvenience, but not serious enough to warrant a warning."

The heaviest snow totals are expected in northern New Jersey, with lower snow totals forecast for Central Jersey.

On Thursday at 2:39 p.m. a winter storm watch was issued by the National Weather Service valid from Saturday 7 p.m. until Sunday 4 p.m. for Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties.

On Wednesday at 2:48 p.m. a winter storm warning was issued by the NWS Medford OR valid from Thursday 4 p.m. until Friday 10 a.m. The warning is for Central Siskiyou County and Northeast Siskiyou and Northwest Modoc counties as well as Modoc County.