Dec. 15—CUMBERLAND — Freezing rain, sleet and snow that began sweeping across the area Sunday led to numerous vehicle accidents.
The snow emergency plan came into effect at 9:30 am. All ramps on the Crosstown Bridge were closed Sunday morning due to a crash, and crashes were reported on Mount Pleasant Street in Frostburg and New Georges Creek Road in the Barton area. Numerous accidents were reported on Interstate 68 east of Cumberland between exits 50 and 57.
A crash involving a tractor-trailer and a passenger car about 2 p.m. east of the Clarysville Bridge closed the highway to eastbound traffic for more than an hour. At least one person was taken to UPMC Western Maryland.
The storm was the result of low pressure over the Ohio Valley that entered the mid-Atlantic on Sunday. Higher temperatures will emerge, but strong high pressure anchored off the northeast coast will bring plenty of cold air to the low levels.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for the area through 1 a.m. Monday, with mixed precipitation of snow and sleet ranging from 1 to 4 inches. Ice accumulations of up to two-tenths of an inch were forecast.
To the west, a winter storm warning was in effect in Garrett County, where forecasters predicted snow would fall until 3 p.m. Monday.
Dense fog will greet travelers over all mountain passes in Western Maryland Sunday evening into Monday as warmer air moves upward. The pattern will finally break Tuesday morning as winds shift to the northwest and blow dry air over the mountains.
