CUMBERLAND – Highway crews prepped roads statewide and local stores were busy with customers buying ice melt Wednesday in preparation for a massive winter storm that a local forecaster described as “turbulent for the region.”
Rain began to fall just after midnight Thursday across the region. Snow emergency plans were in effect in Garrett and Allegany counties.
Many downed trees and lines were reported. In Hampshire County, West Virginia, more than 8,000 First Energy customers were without power as of 9 a.m.
The storm forced most area school systems to cancel classes Thursday.
An ice storm warning issued by the weather service called for ice accumulations of two to four-tenths of an inch and rain accumulations of up to 1 inch for central and eastern Allegany counties and Eastern Mineral and Hampshire counties. Higher amounts and stronger winds are expected in the higher elevations of the region.
Chad Merrill, a forecaster for the Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack and Cumberland, said the torrential cold rain and freezing rain could reach a quarter inch in the city and a half to three-quarters of an inch in Garrett County before end on Thursday. at night.
“Just because of the weight of the ice, there will be multiple, widespread power outages,” Merrill said Wednesday, adding that winds at higher elevations could add to them.
“This storm is going to be bad for the region,” he said.
Merrill said temperatures will creep above freezing Thursday night and reach the low 40s Friday in Cumberland, allowing for a thaw. “Some sunshine in the mix in Cumberland will also speed up the melting process,” he said.
In Garrett County, temperatures above freezing Friday morning will be short-lived, as a cold front will bring temperatures below freezing, allowing ice to stick to trees.
The de-icing operation by the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration involves spraying roads with a mixture of salt brine and water, which prevents precipitation from initially bonding to the pavement.
“We are asking for motorists’ patience while our crews are doing their jobs, clearing lanes for motorists,” MDOT SHA Administrator Tim Smith said. “While we encourage everyone to stay home if travel becomes dangerous, those who must go out should remember that the safest place for people who must drive is safely behind our equipment.”
For those who must travel, SHA offered some advice:
• Slow down. The posted speed limits are for ideal weather conditions.
• Use extra caution on elevated surfaces, such as bridges, overpasses and ramps. These areas freeze first.
• Do not stack the plough. Leave plenty of space between your vehicle and the MDOT SHA device.
• Clear snow from the entire vehicle as snow left on the hood and roof can become ice and drift during highway travel and pose a hazard to other drivers.
Merrill warned of black ice formation Friday evening and Saturday evening in sheltered, unexposed areas where pavement does not fully dry. “Secondary roads will remain icy through the weekend in western Allegany and throughout Garrett County,” he said.
A cold, white Christmas?
Merrill said an Arctic front originating in northern Russia will sweep across the country next week just before Christmas. The air mass behind the powerful front will move into the coldest weather Western Maryland and the Potomac Highlands have seen since December 1958, he said.
“The next pattern change will likely bring a White Christmas to the region, but temperatures will be well below average,” Merrill said. “Residents are urged to keep faucets running and open cabinet doors to prevent pipes from freezing.”
The cold snap is likely to last through the end of the month, Merrill said.
