State agencies are busy preparing for what could be the winter’s largest snow storm this season.
The National Weather Service in Mount Holly, N.J. has issued a winter storm warning for New Castle County and a blizzard warning for Kent and Sussex counties. Local forecasters are predicting that 12 to 18 inches of snow will start to fall Friday, Feb. 5 at around 6 p.m. and last well into Saturday, Feb. 6.
The heaviest snowfall will occur between 10 p.m. Friday and mid morning Saturday, National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Miketta said.
"Snow fall could reach 2 inches per hour," he said. "That combined with strong winds, including gusts up to 50 and 60 miles per hour, will make clearing very difficult. Accumulation in Kent and Sussex counties could be up to 24 inches."
In anticipation, DelDOT’s stockpile of salt is full after it recently received a shipment of more than 10,000 tons of salt on Thursday, Feb. 4. It now has 50,000 tons available for snow operations.
Crews from the Delaware Department of Transportation are pre-treating roads with brine today and working on equipment to make sure everything is in good condition.
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Snow forecast, by county The National Weather Service forecast the following amounts of snow for various parts of the state: New Castle County - 10 to 12 inches Kent County and northern Sussex County - 12 to 24 inches Southern Sussex County - 10 to 12 inches |
“There has been a lot of warning with this storm, so hopefully, people will have made enough plans that they can stay off the roads this weekend,” DelDOT spokesman Jim Westhoff said. “The fewer vehicles on the road, the sooner we can clear the roads.”
The Delaware National Guard has soldiers, airmen and specialized equipment ready to assist the Delaware Emergency Management Agency, said 2nd Lt. Nathan Bright, spokesman for the Delaware National Guard.
“In past storms, our forces have provided transportation with our Humvees and large trucks, emergency power with diesel generators and clean drinking water after the storm,” he said.
The Delaware State Police is reassigning its four wheel drive vehicles to troopers throughout the state to ensure they can respond to emergencies.
Echoing Westoff, state police spokesman Sgt. Walter Newton asked people to refrain from driving, particularly during the height of the storm. The Office of Highway Safety urges people to run their errands before this evening so they can avoid the roads this weekend.
“If you have to venture out, please exercise caution,” Newton said. “Make sure your vehicle has a full tank of gas and is in good working order. Bring blankets with you as well as a cell phone and charger.”
If drivers become stranded, they must ensure their exhaust is clear from debris, stay with their vehicles and run their engines in intervals to maintain warmth within the car, he added. When calling 911 for assistance, give police the exact location and any landmarks that would aid police in finding you.
