RALEIGH — The National Weather Service says parts of eastern and southern North Carolina have a good chance of seeing severe storms on Wednesday.

The service’s Storm Prediction Center has placed areas to the east and south of a line stretching diagonally across the state from Monroe to Raleigh to Nags Head under a moderate risk of severe storms.

That means there is a 45 percent chance of tornadoes or thunderstorms with 75 mph winds or hail 2 inches in diameter within 25 miles of any place included in the risk zone.

The storm could also bring winds up to 60 mph to the southwest corner of the state and snow to the mountains.

Barrett Smith, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Raleigh, said it is all part of the same system was expected to bring severe weather from Texas to Georgia on Christmas Day.

“It’s the first time in recent memory, but it’s not the first time we’ve had weather like this in December,” Smith said. “It’s a deep low-pressure system and we’re going to have a good stretch of moist, unstable air. That’s what it takes any time of year.”

Smith said people should pay attention in case any warnings are announced.

After a balmy Christmas day that saw a high temperature of around 60, Wednesday’s storms are expected to drop high temperatures 10 to 15 degrees for the rest of the week. Weekend highs should range in the mid to upper 40s, with low temperatures around freezing.