Cumberland, MD – Western Maryland may enter a colder, wetter, and occasionally wintry pattern during the Thanksgiving travel period, as new long-range federal outlooks show a 33–40% probability of above-normal precipitation across the region from November 23 through November 29.
According to the Climate Prediction Center’s 8–14 Day Outlook issued Saturday, the mountains and high terrain of western Maryland sit directly along the Appalachian moisture corridor expected to strengthen next week. With colder air positioned nearby across the Alleghenies, the combination could bring periods of cold rain, mixed precipitation, or wet snow—especially during nighttime and early-morning hours.
Garrett County—including Deep Creek Lake, McHenry, and Oakland—stands the best chance of seeing early-season snowfall. Elevation often plays a key role in late-November weather, and even a modest precipitation signal can bring accumulating wet snow to the higher ridges.
Allegany County communities such as Cumberland, Frostburg, and LaVale remain in the same elevated precipitation zone. Temperatures here will sit near the rain–snow threshold, meaning some systems could deliver slushy or mixed precipitation if colder air pushes southeast along the mountains. Travel along I-68, particularly near Sideling Hill and Savage Mountain, may become slow or slick at times.
Far western Washington County—from Hancock to Clear Spring—also sits within the 33–40% wetter-than-normal corridor. Cold rain is most likely, though a brief mix cannot be ruled out during the middle or latter portion of the week.
Thanksgiving week brings increased travel across mountain passes and rural stretches of I-68, US-40, and MD-135. Even light snow or mixed precipitation can cause reduced visibility and slower speeds, especially during peak travel windows.
Forecasters expect clearer details early next week as short-range models begin to resolve individual incoming systems.
