Blizzard warning as “treacherous” whiteout conditions expected

Portions of Maryland and West Virginia are under a blizzard warning Wednesday night into Thursday morning as whiteout conditions are expected for travelers.

The National Weather Service said the warning begins at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday and runs until 3 p.m. ET on Thursday. Up to 9 inches of snow are possible, along with potential wind gusts up to 60 mph. The NWS added that the worst conditions, including the heaviest snow and strongest winds, are expected from midnight until noon.

The potential impacts of these whiteout conditions could make travel in the region “treacherous,” the NWS said. The warning includes Interstate 68, Highway 219 corridors, Highway 33 west of Seneca Rocks, and Highways 48 and 50 west of Bismarck and Mount Storm.

On X (formerly Twitter), NWS Baltimore-Washington posted about the conditions, saying in part, “A high impact weather system is set to move through tonight through Thursday bringing blizzard conditions to portions of the Alleghenies & very gusty winds to the entire area.”

Visibility in these portions of Garrett County, Maryland, and western Grant and western Pendleton counties in West Virginia will be one-quarter mile or less, the NWS warned.

Meanwhile, other portions of the country are also bracing for winter weather conditions especially the Great Lakes region. NWS meteorologist Andrew Orrison told Newsweek that the main areas of concern Wednesday night into Thursday morning are Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin.

“It’s going to get windy, then transition to a lake effect snow event,” Orrison said about the Great Lakes. There’s a risk for snow squalls too, also affecting visibility in this part of the country.

“Visibility with these squalls will be very low,” he said, adding that the squalls won’t last long but they will be “brief and intense.”

Orrison concluded that “the snow that does fall will accumulate and accumulate quickly.”

Portions of Michigan are under a winter storm warning, gale warning or a winter weather advisory. The NWS Detroit office posted about the snow squall potential on X, saying, “Conditions will be favorable for brief but intense snow showers this evening, so if you have travel plans please check the weather before heading out.”

Orrison also said that areas of Pennsylvania and New York could see up to 1 to 22 feet of snow by Friday, as the region is also under a lake effect snow warning until the weekend.

Areas near Buffalo, New York, could see up to 22 inches of snow, the NWS said.