Tri-state bracing for major storm

Winter storm warning from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday

Jeffrey Alderton

CUMBERLAND — Up to 2 feet of snow are predicted for Allegany County beginning at mid-morning today and continuing into Saturday night, according to a winter storm warning posted by the National Weather Service late Thursday morning.

The warning — in effect from 10 a.m. today to 10 p.m. Saturday — includes the prediction of winds gusting up to 35 mph that will reduce visibility to less than a quarter-mile.

Heaviest snowfall is expected to occur between sunset today to sunrise Saturday. Near-blizzard conditions are expected with winds from the northeast at 15 to 25 mph today and 35 mph tonight and Saturday.

AccuWeather meteorologist Tom Kines at State College, Pa., said the precipitation in the Gulf Coast region is clearly headed to the Northeast. “It has a lot of moisture from the gulf and it will pull in moisture from the Atlantic. If you like snow you are going to be pretty happy,” he said.

“It will snow all afternoon, all night and then taper off Saturday. It’s going to give us a foot of snow or more. We will see winds 15 to 25 miles per hour that will cause some blowing and drifting. The wind will be an issue, especially since the snow will be dry and fluffy, which will make it easier to blow around and also make it easier to shovel,” said Kines.

The Baltimore and Washington metropolitan region is expected to receive 12 to 18 inches of snow.

“This is going to be a major storm for the entire region. Obviously, if you don’t have to travel, it’s probably a good idea to stay home,” he said.

Garrett County is expected to receive heavy snow but not quite as much as points east of there. “They may actually get a little less since they are farther away from the storm. But they will see significant amounts, at least 9 to 10 inches,” said Kines.

Gov. Martin O’Malley said the state is “prepared for this latest round of heavy snow.”

“The safety of our roads is a priority and we will dedicate the resources necessary to battle the storm that is headed our way. Our citizens can help. When the snow begins, stay at home if you don’t have to go out. By doing so, you stay safe and our crews are better able to clear the snow when there are fewer cars on the road.”

The State Highway Administration has 266,000 tons of salt across the state and nearly 2,200 pieces of equipment and 2,400 people available to respond to the storm. Officials will monitor the storm from SHA’s Statewide Operations Center in Hanover where it has centralized communications and access to more than 150 traffic cameras located around the state.

For the latest weather and road conditions and to view live traffic cameras during the storm, log onto www.roads.

maryland.gov and click on CHART. Customers may also follow SHA at www.twitter.

com/mdsha or call the Winter Storm hot line at (800) 327-3125 for a regularly updated message with weather and roadway conditions. To report a nonemergency issue, log onto the Web site and click on the Service Request link from the “Contact Us” page.

“Safety comes first at SHA so we will continue to plow and salt from the first flake falling until the storm is long gone and we get every lane clear,” said Transportation Secretary Beverley Swaim-Staley. “The best advice if you do have to be out in the storm is to slow down and leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles because you never know what may happen if other motorists lose control.”

To no surprise, area residents flocked to supermarkets in preparation for the storm.

“It’s been hectic,” said Manager Dan B. Miller at the Food Lion on McMullen Highway at Cresaptown. “The rush started yesterday afternoon. We had extra help. Customers buying milk and bread and other necessities. I placed orders to get extra product in today.”

At Cannon’s Ace Hardware Store on U.S. Route 220 at Keyser, W.Va., owner and manager Keith Beckman said Thursday’s business was busier than that of a typical Thursday.

“People are at the markets and then swinging by to pick up shovels and salt and lamp oil. We’ve run out of lamp oil, and our supplies of shovels and salt are dwindling,” said Beckman, who has operated the business for the past three years. “Ski areas love this. It’s great for them with Presidents Day and Valentine’s Day coming up,” said Kines.

Allegany and Mineral county schools are closed Friday in anticipation of the storm.

Looking ahead to next week, Kines said it could be a repeat situation.

“There’s a possibility of another storm. It looks like it’s going to be another system coming up out of the gulf and picking up Atlantic moisture. We’ll have to see what kind of track it takes but it could be another snowfall Monday night and Tuesday,” he said.

Contact Jeffrey Alderton at jlalderton@times-news.com.