MARYLAND — The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for parts of western Maryland, warning that heavy snow, damaging winds, and dangerously cold temperatures could bring near-blizzard conditions from Friday morning through Saturday morning.
The watch includes Garrett County, covering both Eastern Garrett and Western Garrett, where forecasters say around 6 inches of snow is possible. Locally higher totals could develop along western-favored ridges, including Backbone Mountain, Piney Mountain, Keysers Ridge, and the North Fork Mountains. Winds in the area could gust as high as 60 mph, creating significant blowing and drifting snow.
The heaviest snowfall is expected Friday afternoon through Friday night. During that time, officials warn that whiteout conditions may occur, making travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening, especially on major routes such as Interstate 68 and U.S. Route 40 west of Frostburg, as well as U.S. 219 near the Pennsylvania and West Virginia state lines.
Strong winds combined with heavy snow may cause roads to become impassable, particularly in open and higher-elevation areas. The National Weather Service also warns that power lines could be downed, leading to sporadic power outages.
In addition to snow and wind, Arctic air moving into the region will bring dangerously low wind chills. Forecasters say wind chill values will fall into the single digits and below zero Friday night, with readings potentially dropping to 20 to 30 degrees below zero by late Saturday. Under these conditions, frostbite and hypothermia can occur in less than 30 minutes.
Residents in western Maryland are urged to stay indoors until conditions improve and to delay all travel if possible. Those who must travel are advised to use extreme caution, be prepared for sudden reductions in visibility, and ensure their vehicles are winterized. Officials also recommend dressing in layers and covering exposed skin to reduce the risk of cold-related injuries.
