Capital Region commuters could face snow-covered roads and limited visibility Thursday morning.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for parts of upstate New York, with estimates for snowfall ranging anywhere from 4 to 8 inches. The advisory, in effect from 7 a.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday, could top a half-inch per hour, though snowfall is expected to taper Thursday night, according to forecasts.

Whether the area sees the worst of the storm will depend on whether it tracks east or west of Boston, Meteorologist Steve DiRienzo said Wednesday. Should the storm track westward, the Capital Region will be "right in the sweet spot" for snow accumulation. Northern Vermont, including the Green Mountains, could get up to two feet of snow, he said.

Even so, the snowfall in Albany is hardly cause for concern, he added. The area has already seen a few 3-inch snowfalls this year, and while Thursday temperatures are expected in the mid-30s, that won't necessarily indicate how much snow will stick, DiRienzo said.

"There's still a lot of uncertainty," he said. "When you've got a big spread (of predictions) like that, your guess is as good as mine."

Wind could reach almost 30 mph on Thursday night, and visibility could be less that a mile.

What's ahead

Thursday: Snow, mainly after 8 a.m. High near 35. Southeast wind 5 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent, with of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Thursday night: Chance of snow before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. West wind 8 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Friday: Chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.