A powerful winter storm is moving across the Mid-Atlantic, threatening Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania with hazardous ice. Meteorologists warn that freezing rain and strong winds could make travel dangerous, disrupt power, and turn even short trips into risky ventures. Unlike snow, ice forms silently, coating roads and sidewalks in a slick, invisible layer that can catch drivers and pedestrians off guard.
The most vulnerable areas include north-central and western Maryland, northwestern Virginia, eastern West Virginia, and central to western Pennsylvania. Already, a steady band of moisture is moving through the region, meeting cold air at the surface. Emergency officials are preparing for downed power lines, snapped branches, and vehicles sliding off roads. Utility companies have staged crews to respond to outages, and authorities emphasize that the safest way to handle ice is to avoid it entirely.
