CUMBERLAND, Maryland — Heavy upslope snow and near-blizzard conditions battered the Allegheny highlands Friday afternoon through early Saturday, burying Interstate 68 from LaVale west to Keyser under 2 to 4 inches of snow while wind gusts surged to 50 to 60 miles per hour, sharply degrading travel across the mountain corridor.
The National Weather Service office serving Baltimore and Washington kept a Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 1 p.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Saturday for extreme western Allegany County in Maryland, western Mineral County in West Virginia, and western Highland County in Virginia. Forecasters warned that intense upslope snow showers and squalls would combine with damaging winds to produce blowing and drifting snow and dangerously low visibility.
Conditions deteriorated rapidly along ridge-top routes. Interstate 68 and United States Route 40 turned slick through LaVale, Frostburg, and Flintstone, while United States Route 219 became hazardous near Keyser, Elk Garden, and Mount Savage as snow repeatedly blew back across plowed lanes. Farther south, United States Route 33 across Highland County, including Monterey and McDowell, faced sudden whiteouts as squalls swept across open ridgelines.
The strongest impacts targeted bridges and exposed mountain passes, where crosswinds shoved vehicles and slashed visibility to near zero at times. Officials warned that falling temperatures overnight would harden snowpack, sharply increasing stopping distances and the risk of spinouts.
State transportation crews continued treating primary corridors, but the combination of heavy snow bursts and extreme wind limited how long roads could remain clear during peak squalls. Tree damage and isolated power disruptions were also possible as gusts peaked overnight.
The advisory remains in effect until 7 a.m. Saturday, with winds gradually easing after daybreak. Snow showers taper through the morning, but slick and drifted conditions may linger on mountain roads well into Saturday afternoon.
