WITH forecasters predicting snow overnight and more on the way for the coming weekend, Nottinghamshire County Council's gritting teams will once again be out and about.
Sleet and snow showers are predicted for around midnight tonight, following an evening of rain, and are expected to continue into tomorrow morning's rush hour.
The County Council's highways team are closely monitoring the situation and gritting teams are expected to turn out at around midnight, salting all A and B roads and main bus routes.
From 6am tomorrow day shift drivers will continue to salt roads in preparation for rush hour and, if necessary, will continue to salt throughout the day, depending on weather patterns.
The County Council has 23 gritting vehicles across the county, each covering a route of that takes them around three or four hours.
In addition, 11 other vehicles have been fitted with snow ploughs in readiness for heavy snow.
Since gritting began in October, the County Council has used 22,000 tonnes of salt – the entire capacity of all its storage barns.
Constant deliveries mean that current salt levels stand at a healthy 16,000 tonnes with a further 5,000 on order.
The Council's gritting teams have completed 104 runs across the county since October 26 last year – the first time the teams were sent out this season.
Two years ago, during the severe winter of 2010/11, the teams set a new record for gritting runs by going out 108 times.
And with sub-zero temperatures forecast for the rest of this week, it looks likely that that particular record will be smashed.
In the event of major snowfall the Council is urging people to be good neighbours and help clear residential roads, paths and pavements by following the Government's Snow Code – which gives clear advice on clearing snow and ice safely.
