Oakland, Maryland – Dangerous winter conditions are expected to rapidly develop across the higher elevations of western Maryland and eastern West Virginia on Sunday, where snow squalls and powerful winds could turn roads treacherous within minutes.
According to the National Weather Service in Baltimore/Washington, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from Sunday morning through early Monday for Garrett County in Maryland and western Grant and Pendleton counties in West Virginia. Upslope snow showers and snow squalls are expected to produce 2 to 4 inches of accumulation, with locally higher totals on west-facing slopes. Wind gusts could reach 55 mph, driving blowing snow and sharply reduced visibility.
The most hazardous travel is expected along the I-68 and US-40 corridor west of La Vale, Maryland, as well as US-219 from the Pennsylvania line southward and US-48 west of Moorefield, West Virginia. Visibility could drop below a quarter mile at times, creating near-whiteout conditions, especially late Sunday morning and again late afternoon into the evening.
Wind chills are forecast to fall into the single digits to as low as 5 degrees below zero by Sunday night, increasing the risk of frostbite for anyone outdoors. Drivers are urged to avoid non-essential travel, monitor road conditions through 511, and be prepared for sudden changes as snow squalls move through. Additional alerts remain possible as the cold front pushes across the region.
