NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers in the Northeast are bracing for a snowstorm making its way up the East Coast set to hit during the last weekend of holiday shopping.

The Saturday before Christmas is often the busiest shopping day of the year.

Experts say retailers already facing restrained shoppers could lose some sales they won't get back.

But Mike Niemira, chief economist at International Council for Shopping Centers, says a storm would put a dent in weekend sales in one region but might not be enough to hurt total holiday sales.

Locally, the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the region starting tomorrow morning into Sunday morning.The weather service said there is potential for heavy snow and gusty winds along the coast.

The weather service said there is potential for heavy snow and gusty winds along the coast.The storm could bring as much as 5 inches to the region but those snowfall totals are not definite because the exact track of the system is still uncertain.

The storm could bring as much as 5 inches to the region but those snowfall totals are not definite because the exact track of the system is still uncertain.Today, one can expect another blustery, cold day. The high temperature is expected to be 32 degrees but with the wind gusts it will feel much colder. The low for tonight is expected to be around 17 degrees.

Today, one can expect another blustery, cold day. The high temperature is expected to be 32 degrees but with the wind gusts it will feel much colder. The low for tonight is expected to be around 17 degrees.

Day staff writer Izaskun E. Larrañeta  contributed to this report.