MOYOCK, N.C. (WAVY) — North Carolina is expecting snow totals starting Wednesday. Officials with NCDOT said Monday they’re already working to make sure the roads are pretreated to help keep them open if some drivers still need to be out.
“Before a storm comes, we have this salt and water mixed, saltwater mix we call brine,” explained Tim Hass with NCDOT. “We put that down on the roads on what we call the bare pavement roads, the primary roads. And that slows the process of those roads freezing.”
He said they are focusing on bridges and overpasses because they often freeze first.
Snow total estimates for the region are varying throughout different weather models, but the timing still seems similar among each of them. Starting Wednesday around midday, most areas near the coast and inwards towards Moyock will see snow starting to come down. The weather system should move out completely sometime Thursday.
“Right now what we’re seeing in the forecast is that the northernmost counties might receive the snow and ice,” said Hass. “Whereas the southernmost counties will receive mostly rain. And that’s sort of the issue with the storm. We’re trying to figure out where that dividing line between rain and snow will be.”
When snow does start to stack up, Hass asked that drivers stay off the roads if they can because the snow and ice can make even short distance drives a lot more difficult.
“Check to see what the weather’s going to be like, where you’re starting and where you’re going,” Hass said. “If you must drive on the snow or ice — slow way down and leave lots and lots of room between you and the car in front of you.”
Still, Hass said the best way to enjoy the weather is off the roads until they’re deemed safe.
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