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Extreme cold a factor for plow crews

Too cold for some deicers
Posted at 6:49 PM, Oct 29, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-29 20:49:01-04

COLORADO SPRINGS — The midweek snowstorm moving into Southern Colorado comes with some added challenges for crews out working to clear the roads. Resources include liquid deicers, granular materials, and the old faithful, plow blade.

Only when cold is extreme, many deicers lose effectiveness. During this storm temperatures are expected to drop to single digits. "What that is going to mean for us ultimately, is our ability to apply liquids, granulars, whatever material we would normally apply are going to be minimal. We're going to have almost zero effectiveness," said Colorado Springs Public Works, Operations Mange, Jack Ladley. The plows will be the go-to snow removal resource.

Plows will scrape off snow, but drivers need to be aware of the thin layer remaining over the driving surface. “Hard packed snow and very slippery services that folks are going to have to drive on."