Drivers warned to drive with caution (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Drivers warned to drive with caution

3:51pm Thursday 17th January 2013 in Local

DRIVERS are being warned to drive with caution with heavy snow expected for Worcestershire tomorrow morning.

Gritting teams hit the roads at 2pm today in anticipation of the heaviest snowfall this season, which is expected to hit the region tomorrow morning.

Crews have already begun treating designated routes – all of which will be treated by 9.30pm this evening with twice the amount of salt being spread on roads as usual.

The MET Office is predicting snow will begin to fall in the county at around 3am although this will remain light until about 6am when heavier downfalls are expected. These are forecast to continue through the morning rush hour period.

As much as 15cm could fall on higher ground with around 5-10cm expected for much of the county. Temperatures will remain sub-zero through the night and into tomorrow morning/day.

Council Highways inspectors will be monitoring conditions throughout the night and gritting vehicles fitted with ploughs will be sent out to clear roads during the early hours of the morning when the snow hits.

Motorists making journeys are being urged to drive with caution – even on treated roads – with conditions expected to be very difficult, especially tomorrow morning.

All 1,233 county council grit bins in Worcestershire have been re-filled since the new year and people are encouraged to make use of them by using salt on the highways. 

Jon Fraser, county council highways customer and community manager, said: "The gritting crews have been very busy over the last week clocking up the equivalent mileage of travelling from County Hall, Worcester, to Moscow around three times.

"We started treating routes at around 2pm today and this will continue across all of designated roads through the afternoon and evening. We're putting down twice as much salt than usual with forecasts predicting heavy snow for tomorrow morning.

"We'll be monitoring things through the night and our inspectors will give the go ahead for vehicles, fitted with ploughs, to go out and clear roads when they can during the early hours. Teams will then continue going out whilst we're in the grips of the extreme weather.

"We'll be doing all we can to help motorists, however it's important stress that the message to drivers is still the same but no less important, especially during more extreme bouts of winter weather.

"Grit has never been and will never be a miracle cure. It's not safe to assume you can travel at normal speeds even if you think a road has been treated with salt. Please take care, slow down and drive according to the conditions."