The Public Works Department is pretreating main thoroughfares, bridges, and overpasses today because of a threat of snow, sleet, and freezing rain that will affect motorists as they commute to work on Wednesday.
The National Weather Service in Blacksburg has issued a winter weather advisory that takes effect at midnight tonight and remains in effect until 4 p.m. Wednesday. For the city of Danville, the threat will occur during a much shorter window of time.
Meteorologist Ken Kostura said snow will move into Danville around 4 a.m. and then mix quickly with freezing rain. A mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain will continue through the remainder of the morning.
A total accumulation of less than an inch of snow and sleet and ice accumulations of up to one-tenth of an inch are forecast. Kostura cautioned motorists to slow down and proceed with caution during the morning commute, especially when traveling on bridges and overpasses and untreated streets.
The precipitation will transition to rain in the afternoon.
A high of 37 degrees is forecast for Danville on Wednesday.
Public Works crews today are pretreating major thoroughfares, bridges, and overpasses with brine, which is a mixture of water and salt. The water in the brine evaporates, leaving the salt behind on the road. The salt breaks the bond between the snow and sleet and the roadway, and it, therefore, helps prevent the precipitation from freezing onto roads and bridges.
Public Works Director Rick Drazenovich said the decision to pretreat the road surfaces is precautionary.
Residential streets are not pretreated.
Public Works crews will monitor street conditions beginning early Wednesday morning and respond as needed.