Residents will have to wait one more week to see the antique vehicles and floats in Cumberland. Due to what’s looking like a very wet forecast for Sunday, organizers have postponed the Cumberland Christmas Parade until Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. 

“We are going to have to postpone our parade until the following Sunday,” said Cumberland Christmas Parade organizer Barbara Gamage. “Weather is not looking good. We have a lot of antique vehicles in (the parade) and also rain isn’t good for spectators!” 

That’s because as you look at Sunday’s forecast, there’s not just a chance of rain. It’s looking like you may need Noah’s Ark to get around. The National Weather Service station out of Wakefield has raised the chance of rain three times since Thursday morning, first from 70% to 80%, then to 85% and now to 90% throughout the day. 

Currently it’s calling for rain showers throughout the day in Cumberland, with thunderstorms possible after 2 p.m. Wind will also be gusting up to 30 mph. Not exactly the best recipe for a parade, which is why organizers postponed. 

But the concern now, all jokes aside, is how to handle the sheer amount of rain expected. Between 2 a.m. Sunday morning and 11 p.m. that night, the National Weather Service expects between two to three inches of rain to fall. 

The forecast is bad enough that AAA issued a warning for drivers in and around the Cumberland area for Sunday. 

“Heavy rains from systems like this can cause huge problems on the roads with wet pavement, decreased visibility and flooding,” said Morgan Dean. He serves as spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic in Virginia. “Drivers should stay aware of potential flooding and never attempt to drive across a flooded roadway. Weather and road conditions can change in an instant.”