Baltimore, Maryland – A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for mountain areas of western Maryland and eastern West Virginia as snow squalls, strong winds, and sharply reduced visibility threaten dangerous travel conditions Sunday into early Monday.
According to the National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington office, the advisory covers Eastern and Western Garrett counties in Maryland and Western Grant and Western Pendleton counties in West Virginia. The advisory runs from 8 a.m. Sunday to 1 a.m. EST Monday.
Forecasters expect upslope snow showers and snow squalls to develop late Sunday morning and persist into Sunday night. Snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are forecast, with locally higher totals along west-facing slopes. Winds are expected to gust up to 55 mph, producing blowing snow and visibility reductions to one-quarter mile or less at times.
The National Weather Service warns that near-whiteout conditions are possible, especially during the passage of a cold front late Sunday morning into early afternoon, followed by a secondary round of snow squalls late afternoon into the evening. Wind chills are expected to fall into the single digits to 5 degrees below zero late Sunday afternoon through the night.
Travel impacts are expected to be significant along major mountain routes, including Interstate 68 and U.S. Route 40 west of La Vale, Maryland, U.S. Route 48 west of Moorefield, U.S. Route 33 west of Franklin, and U.S. Route 219 from the Pennsylvania–Maryland line to the West Virginia line. These conditions are expected to affect Sunday commuters and evening travel.
Gusty winds may also bring down large tree branches, adding to roadway hazards.
Officials urge residents and travelers to avoid unnecessary travel, reduce speeds, and monitor road conditions by calling 511. Even brief snow squalls can rapidly turn roads icy and impassable in mountain terrain.
