Winter Weather forecast continues to develop

by Matt Hughes

J-E News Editor

A winter storm watch is in effect from late Thursday, December 5 through the afternoon of Friday, December 6.

The National Weather Service (NWS) predicts the possibility of freezing rain and sleet overspreading the Webster County area late Thursday night into Friday afternoon. The precipitation is expected to gradually change to sleet and snow before coming to an end Friday evening.

This storm is expected to deliver “significant accumulations of ice” as well as sleet and snow, making for treacherous driving conditions Thursday night and Friday.

NWS warns that isolated power outages will be possible.

Another round of wintry precipitation is possible as early as Saturday night, and temperatures early next week are expected to be very cold.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 2 highway crews spent Tuesday producing brine and restocking storage tanks across the 11-county district.  However, they won’t know if they’ll be able to put it to use until the forecast firms up.

Under normal conditions crews would spray brine on roadways where it dries to leave a fine powder of salt that becomes available to be activated as snow starts to fall.  The salt makes driving safer by melting frozen precipitation as it falls during the early hours of an event.  It also helps later by keeping snow from bonding to the pavement surface, making it easier to plow off the pavement after it accumulates.

Pre-treating allows crews to get a head start on a winter storm.  It is very cost-efficient and can be completed during normal working hours.  Once sprayed on a roadway, the material will stick to the pavement for several days while it waits to be activated by falling precipitation.

The District 2 Snow/ & Ice Team will continue to monitor the weather forecast.  If the chance of rain diminishes crews will be fully prepared to pre-treat if they can.  Otherwise, crews will be gearing up, checking plows and salt handing equipment to be ready for whatever mother nature throws their way on Thursday and Friday.

Motorists are asked to carefully monitor area news media outlets and the National Weather Service for regular updates as the winter weather event approaches.