Winter Weather: Special Report
Winter is nearly here, and it's never too early to start planning for the upcoming hazardous travel on the roads. I take a look at all you need to do to be prepared as we change seasons in this special report.
Posted by Meteorologist Eric McCormick on Thursday, November 15, 2018
EUREKA, CA. (KIEM) – The weather here for the North Coast may still be quiet, but winter is right around the corner. Caltrans, California Highway Patrol, and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office are just a few of the organizations gearing up to keep roads open and drivers safe as days grow short and temperatures fall.
Our area sees a number of roadways climb to high elevations, such as Highways 199, 299, 36, and 20, which means that hazardous road conditions are a common occurrence. Snow and ice impact higher elevations first many times, where temperatures are colder. Sergeant Peter Cress of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office points it out well, saying “…the reality is that to get anywhere east in [Humboldt] County, you have to go over a bump that is about 3,000 feet high. So there are winter conditions to consider.”
Down along the coast, snow and ice are less frequent of an issue, but folks along US-101 and other lower elevation areas can still see slick roads from time to time. “We have had years where the snow levels have dropped to just outside of Blue Lake, and we had to start enforcing the chain controls at this area on Highway 299” says Paul Craft, Public Information Officer for California Highway Patrol Humboldt Area.
Aside from snow and ice, other concerns also exist for North Coast Drivers: heavy rains bring flooding and land slides, high winds bring down trees and create coastal surge issues, and wildfire burn scars are prime areas for flash flooding to occur.
If you can, it might be safer to stay indoors and not drive. However, understandably people need to get to places. These sorts of conditions can be very off-putting for people who need to take a long drive though, so instead of risking it, you could make use of a car shipping company like Cars Relo (you can click here to view their website). This way, they won’t have to deal with a stressful drive, and can just use their car when they need it at the end of the long drive. Just book a train ticket or something and you’ll be pleased to see your car has arrived safely on the other end of your journey.
“In the fire areas, we have contracts going that are getting the drainage areas ready, replacing some culverts that were damaged by wildfires, and we are also putting some debris racks on culverts that we expect could see some slides and debris flow” says Tom Fitzgerald, Caltrans District 1 Deputy Director of Maintenance.
Caltrans and first responders are ready to be out in full force when inclement weather hits this upcoming season, with both people and equipment prepped.
Planning is a year round endeavor for Caltrans and other entities, and salt and sand are already being increased ahead of the coming months.
“Our equipment is ready to go, and certainly we’re getting stockpiles of materials we need for ice and snow operations” says Fitzgerald.
Should you get stranded out on the roads, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, making sure someone knows where you are going is always a good plan. An emergency kit is also highly recommended. “[A good kit has]blankets to keep you warm, extra chargers and batteries for your phone, a flashlight and batteries, fresh drinking water, and snacks can all help if you get stranded or stuck” says Craft.
Driving tips out on the road include slowing down, leaving plenty of space from the car ahead of you, and ensuring snow plows have plenty of space to operate. Road conditions will improve with time, simply pack some extra patience when getting to your destination.
CHP and Caltrans also provide up to date road information and safety resources on their websites that drivers can access before getting behind the wheel.
