More cold, snow is coming | News

The warmth that left many wondering what happened to the snow on Monday was short-lived, with colder temperatures and another lake-effect snow event expected this week.

Gaylord National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Delizio said Tuesday was cooler than Monday but still above freezing. He noted that temperatures on Tuesday will be closer to seasonal norms after Monday feeling and looking more like early spring than late fall. There is also a chance of rain and snow showers on Tuesday, although Delizio said those would not result in significant accumulation.

However, starting Wednesday, the next weather event will bring the coldest air mass of the season.

“Daytime highs will be in the 20s on Wednesday and mid-teens on Thursday,” Delizio said. “The minimum temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday evenings will be between 5 and 10 degrees. With this cooler air we will see snow that looks like a lake.”

Wexford and Lake counties are under a winter storm warning until 7 p.m. Thursday, and Missaukee and Osceola counties are under a winter weather advisory from 7 a.m. Wednesday through 7 p.m. Thursday.

Most of the snow is expected Wednesday through Thursday, with heaviest likely west and southwest of Gaylord, including Traverse City, the Leelanau Peninsula and Antrim County. Delizio said snowfall in Cadillac could be several inches.

“In general it won’t be like what we just saw, but some areas could still get a good foot or more of snow,” he said.

Mike Mattzela, manager of the Osceola County Road Commission, said that given the colder weather and more snow on the way, gravel roads in the county should hold once temperatures drop significantly.

“They’re hard in the middle, but they break up a little towards the edges, so there should be traction there. There could be problems in some shaded areas, so caution is advised,” said Mattzela.

The Osceola County Road Commission began preparing for winter in early fall, preparing snow plows and storing salt and sand. However, deciding when and how to use these materials to treat icy roads requires careful planning.

Safety, environmental concerns, weather conditions and budget constraints all play a role in the Road Commission’s decisions about how to manage local roads.

In a typical winter, the Osceola County Road Commission purchases 3,000 tons of road salt and uses 6,000 tons of sand. However, salt is not always effective in treating slippery roads.

When temperatures drop below 10 degrees, salt-treated roads quickly freeze again, making them even more icy and slippery, Mattzela said. Under these conditions it is safer to use sand instead of salt.

Michigan’s 54,000 miles of paved roads have been treated with salt for decades because it is the cheapest and fastest method of de-icing. However, advances in technology and improved winter storm strategies have allowed Michigan’s local highway departments to reduce salt use by 50%.

While road salt remains the primary tool for road clearing, alternative materials are occasionally used. However, these materials are often more expensive and have their own disadvantages.

“Our top concern when it comes to winter service is the safety of drivers,” said Mattzela. “We use salt when and where it is the best tool for the job.”