ST. PAUL, Minn. - By 5:00 p.m. Thursday the state patrol said it responded to 1,129 crashes that caused 90 injuries and one death on Minnesota roadways.
Bitter cold temperatures below 10 degrees and a dusting of snow caused for a dangerous commute.
"It's actually better for us if it's just bitter cold, and we don't get any precipitation whatsoever because you are dealing with very cold roads. Once you start getting a little bit of sleet or snow then all bets are off," said Kent Barnard with the Minnesota Department of Transportation's (MNDOT) public affairs office.
He said it's not necessarily the snow, sleet, rain or other elements that make it difficult clearing roads, it's the bitter cold.
"It works pretty good down to about 20 degrees then after 20 degrees that chemical reaction slows down rapidly. When you get down to 5 degrees and all the way down to zero we see very little reaction."
The pre-wetting solution that is used includes a 80 percent salt brine solution and 20 percent calcium chloride. Salt alone doesn't work as well as a de-icer below 20 degrees.
Combinations like clearing the road of snow, then applying the pre-wetting solution and sand become the best options for trying to keep the roads ice free when temperatures are forecast below 10 degrees for the next week.