Much of the Midwest and Northeast got pummeled this week by winter storm Hercules, dumping anywhere from two inches to two feet of snow while snarling air and ground transportation across a broad swath of the U.S.
The extremely cold temperatures and high winds following behind Hercules are adding to the transportation difficulties, even as another winter storm begins to take shape.
“The back side of the storm [Hercules] may bring winds up to 40-50 mph and bitter cold into Friday,” noted Melinda Peters, administrator for the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA), in a statement.
“The main concern facing motorists [now] is blowing snow that can quickly cover recently plowed lanes [and] with high winds, remember to stay alert for inactive traffic signals as a result of power outages,” she stressed. “Motorists need to have realistic expectations and use heightened caution and reduce speeds. [Snow plow] crews will continue applying chemicals but we warn people that any snow packed areas will be very slow to melt, even with salt or salt brine on the road.”
Peters stressed that all travelers, but particularly truck drivers, need to pay close attention to updated forecasts and adjust plans. “Our crews can make tremendous progress when traffic is light but one jackknifed tractor trailer or a few disabled vehicles can cause significant delays,” she cautioned.
Hercules dumped four to eight inches of snow on Maryland, which deployed over 2,200 trucks statewide to plow and apply salt and other chemicals as needed.
By contrast, nearly two feet of snow blanketed parts of New York state and New York City with a minus 30 to 40 degree wind chill expected in the southern and western Adirondacks thru Friday.
"Knowing the potential impact of this winter storm, combined with plummeting temperatures, I have activated the Emergency Operations Center to coordinate response efforts,” noted New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in a statement.
“Blowing, drifting snow can make travel difficult and dangerous, so I urge citizens to exercise caution if they have to leave their homes,” he said. “We recommend that everyone in potentially affected areas utilize mass transit and take steps to safeguard against frigid temperatures.”
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie declared a state of emergency on Thursday to get ahead of the potential damage winter storm Hercules could cause, activating a wide assortment of snow removal equipment, including: 538 salt-spreader trucks and about 1,900 contractor trucks controlled by the New Jersey department of Transportation; 467 plow/spreader trucks ready to go and another 317 contractor trucks controlled by the new Jersey Turnpike Authority; and 48 plow/spreader trucks and another eight contractor trucks handled by the South Jersey Transportation Authority.
“The impending weather conditions over the next several days will produce a variety of dangerous travel conditions throughout the state,” Governor Christie said. “I encourage all New Jerseyans to stay off the roads if possible so that our first responders and public safety officials can safely respond to any emergency situations.”
Ice formation is also a concern as the mercury plummets into negative territory across much of the Northeast.
“The major concern is icing on bridge decks and roadways,” said Branco Vlacich, the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) district maintenance engineer for northern Virginia. “Be aware of black ice—pavement temperatures will drop quickly tonight and remain well below freezing Friday.”
VDOT has deployed more than 1,250 trucks to treat snow and ice on roads in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties within the Northern Virginia area, treating problem areas such as bridges, hills, and curves with sand and salt to help prevent ice from bonding to pavement.
