Talbot County is continuing to monitor winter weather throughout the day. Talbot County is currently under a winter storm warning until 4 p.m. Residents can expect heavy snowfall, high winds, and freezing roadways. If you do not need to travel during this storm, residents are urged to stay off the roadways.
“Emergency responders and road crews are responding to many incidents throughout Talbot County,” Brian LeCates, Talbot’s emergency services director, said in a press release. “We can expect to see more downed trees and outages through the afternoon with high wind gusts and heavy snow.”
This storm started out as rain early this morning and transitioned to sleet then snow by daybreak. The National Weather Service is predicting eight to twelve inches of snow for Talbot County. There are six inches of heavy wet snow in Easton as of 12 p.m. The snowfall is expected to end by 5 p.m. The storm is forecasted to produce wind gusts between 30-40 mph. Following this storm will be very cold temperatures into the teens this evening. Refreeze after this storm into tomorrow remains a concern.
Heavy intense snow is causing low visibility and hazardous driving conditions. Talbot County is experiencing many downed trees, which could result in downed electric wires as well. There were 819 homes without power at 12 p.m. Along with downed trees, there are several disabled motorists along roadways. Refer to local power outage maps for updated information throughout the day (links below).
Talbot County is operating under the snow emergency plan, which means roadways need to be cleared of any vehicles in order to allow county road and State Highway Administration to treat and plow roads. It is imperative that travelers drive with caution to allow road crews and emergency responders to do their jobs safely.
The Talbot County Department of Emergency Services and its response partners continue to closely monitor this system and ask people in the community to do the same. Talbot County is coordinating with local and state partners, and is prepared to respond with resources as needed.
Talbot County DES recommends that citizens take the following precautions:
• Avoid traveling until snow ends and roads are cleared. Don’t Crowd the Plows.
• Keep your devices charged and only use generators outdoors and never in a garage should you lose power.
• If you do go outside:
- Dress in warm clothes and layers
- Use rock salt to melt ice on walkways
- When shoveling snow, stay hydrated and push the snow aside, don’t lift
• Never touch downed wires
• Review winter emergency plans
• Check on your neighbors
• Download the Talbot DES App to report any hazards
Resources for weather and outage information:
- Current hazards and impassable roadways in Talbot County
- National Weather Service Winter Weather Info
- Talbot County Hourly Weather
- Power Outage Maps
- Winter Weather Safety
For more information on how register for Talbot County Citizen Alerts to receive local weather alerts, visit the Talbot Department of Emergency Services website at www.talbotdes.org.