CUMBERLAND — Allegany County might be spared from a white Christmas, but officials say a change in weather patterns will cause hazardous conditions Friday and into early Saturday morning.
“It definitely is not going to be a white Christmas for the county,” National Weather Service Meteorologist Brendon Rubin-Oster said. “For that to occur you need to have one inch or more of snow on the ground by 7 a.m. Christmas morning and there is no snow predicted for Allegany County.”
Christmas Day should be mild, around 50 degrees, but as we turn to Friday, it is going to be much colder and only in the 30s, Rubin-Oster said.
Rubin-Oster added that the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for western Allegany County from 7 a.m. Friday through 1 a.m. on Saturday.
“A disturbance in the atmosphere early Friday morning will cause moisture from the south to move north, meeting a cold air mass from Canada, producing a wintery mix,” Rubin-Oster said.
Western Allegany County could see up to a quarter-inch of freezing rain, Rubin-Oster said. East of Cumberland is forecasted to receive a tenth of an inch of freezing rain.
“One of the biggest concerns is people traveling during the holiday. Surface temperatures are going to be right at freezing or below, so any precipitation that does occur, will freeze on untreated surfaces, including roadways, sidewalks and steps,” Rubin-Oster said. “Citizens should use extreme caution when maneuvering these areas.”
The weather service recommends staying home and off the roadways, if possible.
Rubin-Oster added that citizens should watch for falling trees, branches and power lines as ice accumulates, these objects become heavy and succumb to the weight, ultimately falling to the ground.
Todd Bowman is a local and national journalist specializing in public safety news. Follow his work on all social media platforms @ThePeakedT.