Winter has returned to the region, with northwest winds expected to gust to 40 to 50 mph Thursday into Thursday evening, and snow is in the forecast this weekend.

For Saturday through Saturday night, the National Weather Service says a period of accumulating snow is probable. A change to a wintry mix and even rain should occur from southeast to northwest for much of the area. The details and impacts however remain less certain, however if you will be traveling across the region keep up to date on the latest forecast.

Here is the latest forecast:

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.

Tonight: A chance of rain, mainly after 8 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 35. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Windy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 21 to 26 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 43 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. Blustery, with a northwest wind 17 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 29. Northwest wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Saturday: Snow before 4 p.m., then snow and sleet. High near 32. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Saturday Night: Rain, snow, and sleet before 1 a.m., then rain and snow likely between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., then a chance of snow after 4 a.m. Low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Sunday: A chance of snow showers before 7 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17.

M.L. King Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 26.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 23.