Weather forecasters said a winter storm likely is on its way to the Mid-Columbia this week.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for the region Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening, with an expected 4 to 8 inches of snow piling up in the area.

Forecasters expect light snow to start Tuesday and increase in intensity overnight and into Wednesday.

The storm also is likely to bring 10 to 20 mph winds.

Snow could turn to freezing rain Wednesday as the air warms up, the weather service said.