Oakland, Maryland – Mountain roads across western Maryland and the central Appalachians could ice over within minutes Monday night as a blast of arctic air triggers snow and a rapid temperature drop.
According to the National Weather Service in Baltimore/Washington, a Winter Weather Advisory takes effect at 7 p.m. Monday and continues until 11 a.m. Tuesday for western Garrett County in Maryland, western Grant and Pendleton counties in West Virginia, and western Highland County in Virginia. Snow will develop behind a powerful cold front, producing 2 to 4 inches of accumulation, with higher totals possible along ridges above 3,000 feet.
Communities including Oakland, Franklin, Moorefield, and Monterey could see rapidly deteriorating travel overnight as temperatures plunge below freezing. Winds may gust up to 50 mph, blowing snow across exposed highways and increasing the risk of falling branches.
Travel could become hazardous along Interstate 68 and U.S. 40 west of LaVale, U.S. 219 from the Pennsylvania line into West Virginia, U.S. 48 near Moorefield, and U.S. 250 west of Monterey. Wet roads may quickly freeze, creating flash freeze conditions late Monday night into early Tuesday.
Wind chills are expected to drop into the lower single digits by early Tuesday morning, especially in higher elevations.
Snow and gusty winds may linger through the Tuesday morning commute, and additional alerts could be issued if heavier bands develop along the mountain ridges.
