A messy winter storm is expected to hit large parts of North Texas starting Wednesday night, with the potential for snow, ice and sleet, and Gov. Greg Abbott is warning Texans to "stay home" and "be careful" if they live in an affected area.

AUSTIN – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will be giving an update on the state's response to the incoming winter storm that's forecasted to bring sleet and several inches of snow. Abbott is set to speak from Austin on Wednesday in addition to spokespersons from the Texas Department of Emergency Management,

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said on social media that if the Gulf of Mexico is renamed, it should be called the "Gulf of Texas."

Parts of North Texas is under a winter storm warning,. The areas under a warning are generally along and north of Interstate 20 and could see two to four inches of snow, according to NWS Fort Worth/Dallas. Some northeast pockets of the region and areas north of the Metroplex could see up to 8 inches of snow.

As Texas prepared for severe winter weather, Gov. Greg Abbott expressed confidence Wednesday in the state's power grid. Frigid temperatures -- along with snow, sleet and freezing rain -- were expected to make their way into Texas midweek,

Today is a FOX 26 Storm Alert Day in southeast Texas. Heavy rain will begin to move in midday with the heaviest rain expected later this afternoon into the evening. Models are showing 2 to 4 inches of rain possible in total and the highest amounts will likely be close to the coast.

After a Wednesday morning briefing by state emergency response officials, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will update Texans on plans to respond to winter storms expected to hit large portions of the state starting Wednesday night.

Emergency management teams at the state operations center in north Austin were busy tracking the winter weather that was moving into Texas.