In the midst of the snowiest period since 2006, Garrett County will get walloped with more accumulation later this week. The same system will spur gusty winds across the entire region.
A weather station in McHenry has measured 12.5 inches of snow accumulation since late November. This is the most snow in McHenry for Nov. 22 to Dec. 2 since 2006.
Temperatures will warm several degrees above freezing and winds will kick up to 25 mph Wednesday afternoon. Rain will develop Wednesday evening and then change to snow between 8 p.m. and midnight. Snowfall rates will rapidly increase as temperatures plummet into the teens through daybreak Thursday.
Five to 9 inches will pile up in Garrett County, dropping to an inch or two near Frostburg. In Garrett County, there will be a rapid freeze overnight of the initial rainfall and wet snowfall on all paved surfaces, including Interstate 68. On top of the icy roads, several inches of snow will accumulate on paved surfaces, even main thoroughfares.
The pattern supports a likely implementation of the Snow Emergency Plan early Thursday in Garrett County and may impact Garrett County Schools for Thursday.
A few snow squalls will push all the way into central and eastern Allegany County, accumulating a dusting on most surfaces. Roads will be slippery in spots east of state Route 36.
The other big weather headline from the midweek front will be the widespread strong winds that will foster wind damage and power outages. Between 4 and 11 a.m. Thursday, widespread gusts reaching 40 to 50 mph will produce scattered wind damage and power outages. This matches the time frame of the frontal passage and drop in temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees. Wind advisories will likely be hoisted for the entire region, with a Winter Storm Warning for Garrett County.
The snow will transition to an occasional flurry Thursday evening and the winds will slowly taper down to 15-25 mph. Friday will be cold with flurries in Garrett County and mostly cloudy skies to the east in Allegany County.
A warming trend will commence Saturday and continue through Monday. Another front will drop temperatures Tuesday into Wednesday next week before a longer-term warming trend puhes temperatures above average later next week into at least the Christmas holiday.