The gritting season is well underway, and there’s a lot more cold weather to come! January and February are considered the coldest months of the year! Last year they reached average temperatures of 3.3 and 5.1 degrees Celsius.
So, there is still time to prepare and face the snow and ice.
When faced with freezing temperatures, here at Lincolnshire Gritters we have to assess the severity of the weather to determine the frequency of our gritting.
For instance, if we experience a light snowfall, it may only require us to grit once or twice. However, we might need to grit more regularly during extended cold weather spells.
To ensure that the roads remain safe, we continuously monitor weather forecasts and conditions regularly through databases such as the Met Office and Real Weather. We use the information to decide how often we should be gritting and where.
Air temperature VS Road Surface Temperature
When assessing the weather, one of the first things we identify is the road surface temperature, as this gives us the best indication of how much gritting is needed. (Air temperature is not a reliable indicator of when the roads need gritting, as the road surface temperature can be much lower)
We also look into wind speed and rainfall as they can also affect these temperatures, and these can also influence the frequency of gritting.
Salt becomes more effective as temperatures drop from 0°C to -5°C, another reason we must consider the air and road surface temperature before selecting a gritting plan.
Why is salt used on the roads in England during winter?
Once we begin carrying out gritting, salt is used to combat the ice.
Salt is incredibly effective at melting ice and snow on roads, as it lowers the freezing point of water. Meaning roads can be cleared quickly, safely and efficiently.
The salt also helps to stop further ice or snow from forming on the road surface, reducing the frequency of gritting required.
Here are Lincolnshire Gritters we are constantly monitoring to assess the requirement and frequency of our gritting, this allows us to provide the most effective gritting services.
We are also continuously improving our gritting services.
So, you can be rest assured that we always have your safety in mind and will endeavour to keep the roads of Lincolnshire safe.
If you would like to find out more on how we can help you during the 2023 season and beyond, make sure to get in touch, we offer FREE, no-obligation consultations.