MUNCIE, Ind. (AP): An approaching winter storm has prompted Ball State University to open its residence halls one day early for students returning from their winter break.

Ball State officials say the Muncie campus' residence halls will open at noon Saturday. The housing units had been scheduled to open Sunday morning.

The school is encouraging students to return to campus before the winter storm arrives Saturday evening and for them and their families to closely monitor forecasts and road conditions.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for most of Indiana from Saturday night through Sunday night.

The storm could dump nearly a foot of wind-driven snow on parts of the state and usher in a wave of sub-zero Arctic cold.