ST PAUL, Minn. — This isn't your "average" winter storm. Minnesota Department of Transportation spokesperson Anne Meyer says there are several elements that will make clearing the highways challenging for crews.
For one, the cold temperatures don't help. Meyer says road treatment products don't do as well when it's this cold. However, they're still using them.
"We've treated our rock salt," Meyer said. "We've added an additive to the brine so we've got some elements that help it work better in these extreme temperatures but it's just going to take longer out there."
Strong wind gusts also present challenges in that snow that has been cleared may drift right back onto the highways.
"Going to see a lot of snow coming back onto roadways," Meyer said. "20-, 30-mile-an-hour, 40-mile-an-hour gusts. That's a lot of wind to contend with, especially with light snow."
Meanwhile, because of the holidays, there are a lot more drivers on the roads and many of them may be unfamiliar with our roads. That can cause backups even on a hot day. Meyer says collectively these challenges mean it will take longer to clean up the highways.
"We want drivers to be aware of that," she said. "This is not a quick turnaround. Even if we just have one day of snow, that wind and the cold weather is really going to prolong things for MnDOT crews and it's going to take longer to get highways back in the clear."
She says to expect delays even though plows are out in full force. There are 200 plows in the metro and 800 statewide. This is standard response for winter storms.
"We've got twice the amount of drivers to keep most of those plows on the road 24 hours a day before we can get back in the clear but this is going to be a long one," she said. "Expect to see plows out there even into the weekend."
MnDOT says to avoid driving while the snow is falling. MnDOT also recommends packing emergency supplies like blankets and phone chargers in case you get stuck roadside.
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