GRAY — The National Weather Service updated its winter weather advisory at 3:12 p.m. today, and notable changes include the introduction of sleet to the mix of precipitation heading our way and a shortening of the advisory window.

The advisory for coastal portions of Knox, Waldo and Lincoln counties now remains in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday, while snow accumulations are still in the 3- to 5-inch range. Areas inland, including Unity and Augusta, will get more snow, with accumulations up to 12 inches.

A mix of rain and snow is also in the cards later this afternoon, but tonight will bring a mix of snow and sleet, as temperatures hover and fluctuate above the freezing mark.

Wet snow and sleet will make driving difficult, and periods of change-over to rain could make snow covered roads even more slick.

Temperatures will be in the low to mid-30s, with east winds at 15 to 25 mph and gusts up to 35 mph.

This snow, like last weekend's precipitation, will be heavier and wetter than the snow delivered to the region during the blizzard of Feb. 8-9.

For the southern half of southern and western Maine, a winter storm warning is in effect through 5 p.m. tomorrow.

In northern Oxford, Franklin and southern Somerset counties, snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches are forecast. In southern Oxford, Franklin, Somerset and interior York, Cumberland, Androscoggin, Kennebec and Waldo counties, 6 to 12 inches of wet, heavy snow is likely.

For the immediate coastal Midcoast, rain and snow likely this afternoon under cloudy skies and a high near 37 degrees Fahrenheit. Tonight, rain and snow before midnight, then rain and sleet and a low around 35 F.

Thursday, rain and sleet, becoming all rain after 9 a.m. and a high near 41 F. Thursday night will bring more rain before 11 p.m., then rain and snow likely until midnight when the precipitation will be snow.

Snow showers are likely Friday before 11 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers between 11 a.m. and noon, possibly changing to all rain after noon and a high near 38 F. There will be a chance of rain showers before 8 p.m. Friday, then a chance of snow showers.

Saturday will be mostly sunny, with a high near 39 F.