CUMBERLAND, Md. – Powerful west winds are expected to keep whipping across western Maryland, northern Virginia, and eastern West Virginia through early Thursday, with gusts reaching up to 50 mph in some mountain areas. The National Weather Service in Baltimore/Washington extended its wind advisory until 1 a.m. Thursday.
According to the Weather Service, the advisory covers Allegany and Garrett counties in Maryland, along with parts of Pendleton and Hardy counties in eastern West Virginia and the Blue Ridge region of Virginia. Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected, with higher gusts along ridge tops and open highways.
Tree limbs may come down, and isolated power outages are possible, especially in rural and elevated areas. Drivers of high-profile vehicles on I-68 and U.S. Route 220 should use extra caution, as crosswinds could make driving difficult through the evening.
The National Weather Service advises residents to secure outdoor objects and stay alert for possible extended outages overnight. Winds should ease by early Thursday morning as a cold front moves eastward across the region.
