VANCOUVER – With Saturday’s forecast calling for snow followed by freezing rain, road crews were busy Friday spraying anti-icer on thoroughfares in preparation for the storm.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch from 10 a.m. Saturday through 10 p.m. Sunday. Snow could begin falling Saturday morning before changing to freezing rain Saturday afternoon.
Freezing rain is expected to continue through Sunday morning before switching to rain Sunday evening. However, difficult driving conditions could persist into Monday, especially for areas east of Interstate 205 and near the Columbia River Gorge.
To inhibit ice crystals from bonding to road pavements, county road crews have sprayed salt brine ‒ a mixture of salt and water‒ on county roads that receive the most traffic.
Crews will be ready to respond as winter weather arrives, but what they can do will be limited if the county becomes covered by a sheet of ice. For this reason, residents are urged to plan ahead and avoid driving. Ice can make travel particularly treacherous, even for four-wheel drive vehicles.
“Our trucks are chained up and fully stocked with sanding gravel,” said Scott Wilson, Clark County’s Road Maintenance manager. “We will do what we can to keep our roads passable, but residents should stay off the roads if at all possible.”
Specific problems, such as fallen trees or limbs blocking county roads, can be reported to Public Works at (360) 397-2446. Downed power lines should be reported to Clark Public Utilities at (360) 992-8000.
More information on the county’s winter weather preparation and response is available on the county’s website at www.clark.wa.gov/public-works/winter-snow-and-ice.
