Just as we thought we have seen it all, another winter storm is expected to hit the area with snow and freezing rain on Tuesday.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for each county in the listening area from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday. Meteorologists are predicting snow accumulation to total between 5-9 inches by daybreak Wednesday.
“The afternoon is when precipitation will start moving in and it will be heaviest overnight,” said Mike Kurz, meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “By Wednesday afternoon it should be tapering off across the area.”
Local county highway departments will be monitoring the forecast throughout the day. Tim Ortman, assistant superintendent with the Decatur County Highway Department, said his crew will not be pre-treating the roads in advance of the storm.
“Their talking a quarter inch of ice, it just seals over that pretreatment pretty quick,” Ortman explained.
When it comes time to clear the roads, Ortman confirmed that the highway department is prepared.
“We got a full fleet, we’re actually putting chains on our trucks, did all of our preventive maintenance, we’re sitting pretty good on availability,” said Ortman.
The Franklin County Highway Department ordered 400 tons of salt two weeks ago, and will receive a quantity of that order on Tuesday.
“Its starting to get a little bit better, we were a little worried for awhile that it probably would come,” said Hollie Sintz, with the Franklin County Highway Department. “Two weeks later it is coming, so that will definitely help if there is a lot of ice and snow.”
Franklin County Highway trucks are running routes Tuesday morning in advance of the pending storm.
Stay up-to-date on cancellations, delays and travel information on Country 103.9 WRBI.
