Rain expected Thanksgiving weekend; MD police, transportation officials advise caution
The forecast for Thanksgiving travel is looking pretty good — until Friday.
"There is a chance for some rain for the return trip," said meteorologist Cody Ledbetter with the National Weather Service's Baltimore/Washington forecast office.
The potential for rain is Friday through Sunday, though there was uncertainty about the specifics with the low pressure system this far ahead of the holiday weekend, Ledbetter said. There was a "lot of spread" in the guidance among the different forecast models.
Maryland State Police 1st Sgt. Kurt Dominick said state police are asking drivers to take their time and give themselves more time to travel this holiday weekend.
"With the weather coming in, we'll have extra troopers Wednesday through the weekend," Dominick said. They will be enforcing aggressive driving laws on Interstates 70, 68 and 81, he said.
With the heavier volume of traffic on Thanksgiving weekend, state police typically see some fender benders.
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The Wednesday and Sunday around Thanksgiving are typically the busiest travel days of the year, said Ragina Cooper Ali, spokesperson for AAA in Maryland and Washington, D.C. In addition to people traveling to be with family and friends for Thanksgiving, this is a busy holiday shopping time with Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.
"It's going to be busy. We know that. But whenever there's a weather forecast that calls for any precipitation, whether it's rain or snow, that can further complicate an already busy day," Ali said Monday.
"We encourage motorists to travel with caution, particularly with rain in the forecast. In addition, be aware of pedestrians in shopping areas as people head out to start their holiday shopping," Hagerstown Police Lt. Rebecca Fetchu wrote in an email Monday.
“The essence of a happy holiday season is spending time with friends and loved ones, and our MDOT family takes great pride in the role we play to bring people together," Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary James F. Ports Jr., said in a news release. “If we all keep in mind simple travel rules — like taking your time, paying attention, using seat belts and never driving impaired — we can make sure every mother and father, son and daughter, grandparent and grandchild gets to their destinations safely and efficiently."
The holiday weekend forecast
The weather service's website for the Tri-State area, on Monday morning, showed a 40% to 50% chance of rain Thursday night with the chance for showers increasing to 50% to 60% on Friday.
Accuweather and Weather Underground forecasts were showing a chance of showers in the Hagerstown area on Friday and Saturday, according to their websites.
Temperatures, forecast to be in the upper 40s on Tuesday, are expected to gradually warm this week with highs forecast to be in the 50s in the late week, Ledbetter said.
There's also potential for strong winds Saturday or Sunday in Washington County and West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, Ledbetter said.
Expect busy roads
Travel is continuing to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, with Maryland travel expected to be nearly 10% below 2019 Thanksgiving traffic volume, according to a AAA news release.
Still, more than 1 million Marylanders are forecast to travel at least 50 miles, AAA states.
With Washington County having the crossroads of I-81 and I-70, the area will see plenty of through traffic.
Most travelers don't seem fazed by gas prices that are trending about 30 cents higher than they were nationally and in Maryland, the AAA release states.
The average price of a gallon of regular gas in Hagerstown was $3.515 on Monday, or almost 16 cents per gallon higher than the $3.358 average per gallon a year ago, according to AAA's website.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge travelers should expect delays Tuesday through Monday, according to a state transportation release.
The best times to travel are expected to be before 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday; before 9 a.m. and after 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day; before 9 a.m. and after 8 p.m. on Friday; before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; and before noon and after 6 p.m. on Monday.
If you're flying in or out Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, allow lots of time for parking, check-in and security checkpoints, according to the state transportation release.
Travel tips
The Maryland Department of Transportation provided several tips for safe holiday travel and avoiding the rush.
They are:
Be patient. Travel during off-peak hours and allow extra time for delays.
Focus on driving. Avoid distractions like cellphones and don't text while driving.
Driver sober. Never drive impaired by alcohol or drugs. Plan for a sober ride home as well. Patrols will stop suspected impaired drivers.
Slow down. Observe posted speed limits.
Remember Maryland's newly expanded Move Over Law, which requires drivers "to make a lane change or slow down when approaching any stopped, standing or parked vehicle displaying hazard warning lights, road flares or other caution signals." If you can't move over, slow down to a safe speed.
Buckle up. It's the law in Maryland whether you're in the front or back seat.
Watch out for pedestrians and bicyclists.
In an emergency, dial #77 to reach Maryland State Police.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Maryland authorities urge Thanksgiving travelers to take their time
