SHELBY -N.C. Department of
Transportation crews have already started preparing for possible snow and
ice accumulation in Division 11, which includes Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell,
Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and Yadkin counties.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather
advisory until 10 p.m. today across the North Carolina High Country, including
Alleghany, Ashe and Watauga counties. Other parts of Division 11 are also
expected to receive light snow throughout the afternoon and tonight.
When Division 11 crews arrived to work this morning, they
began readying snow plows and spreaders for any snow clearing needed today.
Interstates and overpasses in Yadkin, Wilkes and Surry counties are being
pre-treated with brine, a salt and water solution that is 23 percent salt and
keeps the ice from bonding to the road.
The division's non-mountain counties will send crews home at
11 a.m. today and have them return at 8 p.m. to treat roads, as needed. In the
division's mountain counties, some salt and sand remain on the roads from
recent NCDOT treatment, and that will still be effective during today's weather
event.
Motorists are encouraged to slow down and use caution when
traveling through the region, since icy patches are possibly along the road.
NCDOT crews will treat any problem areas throughout Division 11 with salt and
sand.
Travelers are asked NOT to call 911 or the State Highway
Patrol for road conditions. The lines must remain clear for emergency calls.