Portland could get more than 6 inches of snow from a storm that will move into the region Thursday.

John Cannon, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Gray, said Tuesday night that the Portland area has been placed under a winter storm watch until noon Friday.

Temperatures will be moderate with highs reaching the mid-30s. The storm will start out as rain in Portland before changing to snow overnight.

“The amounts are going to vary quite a bit,” Cannon said. “There will be more snow inland and less snow on the beaches.”

Cannon said inland areas, especially the foothills and mountains, could see a “very significant” amount of snow from the storm. He declined to be more specific.