IRONTON — Eager shoppers wanting to be the first in line to get that holiday bargain early Friday morning might be welcomed with an unexpected gift as they wait — the first snowfall of the year.

The National Weather Service in Charleston, W.Va. is forecasting snow showers to make their debut for the 2009-2010-winter season sometime between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. Friday morning.

The chance of snow is currently being forecast at 40 percent.

Accumulation amounts are expected to be between one-tenth and one-quarter of an inch as temperatures hover near the freezing mark.

The snow is expected to follow a cloudy and rainy Thanksgiving Day where a 30 percent chance of showers is forecast after 2 p.m.

The chance of rain increases overnight to 50 percent where it will then turn over to snow as temperatures drop.

On Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year and the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season, snow will turn back to rain, primarily between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Highs are expected to be in the low 40s.