It is more the wet kind of precipitation expected this weekend, but when the snow comes, the County of Essex says it will be ready.
Essex County road crews start night rotations Sunday in preparation. Crews maintain a 24-hour weather watch. That includes road patrols dispatched form four permanent depots and one seasonal depot.
In recent weeks, about 5,000 tonnes of road salt has been delivered. Another 8,000 to 10,000 tonnes is left over from last season, and on average the county uses some 18,000 tonnes of salt every winter.
The County has a total of 18 salt trucks and snow plows to clear more than 1,500 km of roads. 18 of those trucks are county vehicles, while another five are contracted for the job.
"When you see blue flashing lights, be aware and slow down," said Manager of Maintenance Operations, Dan Newman. "Our crews are just out there doing their job and keeping everybody safe."
Crews respond to up to 80 snow events a season on average, and winter maintenance costs the county about $3-million a year.