WASHINGTON — O.K., so it鈥檚 more like 5 inches than 10 for the D.C. area. But that鈥檚 not making it any less treacherous on the roads.
Bob Marbourg, of 草莓传媒 Traffic, said on Monday at about 11 p.m. that 鈥渋t is the temperatures, not the totals.鈥� The near-record cold temperatures mean that nothing is melting on the roads, and even salt is only of limited help.
鈥淸It鈥檚] so far below freezing that the effectiveness of the salt is greatly diminished,鈥� Marbourg says. At this point, he adds, the only thing salt is going to do for you is provide a little abrasiveness, to possibly give your tires something to dig into.
With such cold temperatures, it takes a lot of salt, and a lot of traffic, to 鈥渟tir that snow Slurpee,鈥� Marbourg says. When there are only a few cars on the road, 鈥渢he roads are likely to remain virtually frozen solid.鈥� And that鈥檚 the main roads 鈥� the smaller roads and neighborhood streets will probably be even worse.
Even so, Marbourg says that the decision by the federal government and most school systems to close Tuesday were smart. Getting people off the roads and out of the way of the plows is crucial. 鈥淵ou can only get ahead of Mother Nature after she leaves.鈥�
