Western Maryland, West Virginia – A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for mountain counties, with heavy snow, high winds, and dangerous wind chills expected to severely impact travel late Friday into early Saturday.
According to the National Weather Service in Baltimore/Washington, a strong Arctic front will move across the Allegheny Highlands beginning Friday morning, intensifying Friday afternoon and night. Snow squalls and persistent heavy snow may lead to near-blizzard conditions, particularly along higher elevations and western-facing ridges.
Forecast snowfall totals are around 6 inches, with locally higher amounts possible along favored ridgelines such as Backbone Mountain, Piney Mountain, Keyser’s Ridge, and the North Fork Mountains. Wind gusts could reach 60 mph, producing blowing and drifting snow that may quickly reduce visibility to near zero.
The watch includes Eastern and Western Garrett Counties in Maryland, and Western Grant and Western Pendleton Counties in West Virginia.
Travel impacts are expected to be severe, especially along Interstate 68, U.S. Route 40, U.S. 219, U.S. 48, and U.S. 33, where whiteout conditions and drifting snow could make roads impassable. The National Weather Service warns that travel could become treacherous or potentially life-threatening, particularly Friday night.
Strong winds may also down power lines, leading to sporadic power outages. Wind chills are expected to drop into the single digits below zero Friday night, falling as low as 20 to 30 degrees below zero by late Saturday afternoon. Frostbite and hypothermia can occur in under 30 minutes in these conditions.
Residents are urged to delay travel if possible, remain indoors, and ensure vehicles and emergency supplies are winter-ready. Commuters and students traveling Friday evening should closely monitor local conditions and updated forecasts as the storm approaches.
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