Snowfall on the night of Saturday, January 24 turned into rain and sleet on Sunday, January 25 — meaning Saturday was just the first round, with rain and sleet expected to turn to ice, according to the West Virginia Division of Highways.
Ice is a game changer when it comes to clearing winter roads, with its own challenges.
“When we experience ice instead of snow, we use similar means and materials to remove it,” said WVDOH State Highway Engineer Jake Bumgarner. “What makes treating ice harder than snow is that the ice itself accumulates quicker. Ice also doesn’t leave as many visual cues. A road may look clear and wet, but be very slick from ice.”
Engineers know exactly how much salt it takes to melt ice, and exactly how long it takes. At 30 degrees Fahrenheit, for example, a pound of salt will melt 46 pounds of ice in about five minutes.
But as temperatures drop, salt becomes less effective. At 15 degrees, a pound of salt will only melt six pounds of ice, and it will take an hour for the ice to melt. Much colder than that, and the salt will blow away before it has a chance to melt anything.
“With this particular storm, the higher temperature does aid in the salt’s effectiveness,” Bumgarner said. “But we are worried about a refreeze this evening as temperatures are expected to plummet. Those conditions will be much harder for the salt to be effective.”
Travel conditions Sunday night and Monday morning, January 26, could be hazardous. The WVDOH urges drivers to avoid travel if possible and to be extremely cautious if they are on the roads.
