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Winter arrives: rain, sleet, snow, high winds in forecast

Staff photo by Ron Alvey The Dayton area received a dusting of snow the morning of Dec. 7, 2009, causing traffic problems.

Staff photo by Ty Greenlees The first snowfall of the season hit the Dayton area on Monday, December 7. This scene is on U.S. 68 on Greene County.

Photos: First snowfall of the season

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Despite the light snowfall, driving was treacherous in places around the Dayton area, including all the major interstate highways. These wrecked cars on west bound U.S. 35 near Keowee St. were two of many that spun out on the ice.

Staff photo by Ty Greenlees Despite the light snowfall, driving was treacherous in places around the Dayton area, including all the major interstate highways. These wrecked cars on west bound U.S. 35 near Keowee St. were two of many that spun out on the ice.

By Joanne Smith, Staff Writer Updated 6:06 PM Monday, December 7, 2009

DAYTON — Motorists who successfully maneuvered the dusting of snow that turned Miami Valley roads icy Monday, Dec. 7, get more chances to test their winter driving skills this week.

The National Weather Service in Wilmington is calling for a 60 percent chance of sleet and rain today, Tuesday, Dec. 8. Snow again drifts into the forecast Wednesday afternoon.

The good news: “We’re not expecting a lot of accumulation,” Meteorologist Mike Gallagher said.

High winds add to the bluster Wednesday with gusts in excess of 55 miles an hour possible.

The season’s first significant snow Monday kept police and emergency squads busy around the region.

Dayton Police Lt. Larry Faulkner said his department dealt with 25 to 30 crashes between 6:50 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

“(Interstate) 75 was at a standstill,” he said.

Fred Stovall, Dayton’s director of public works, said road crews headed out around 8 a.m. and got jammed up in traffic behind accidents and roads closed due to ice.

“We didn’t expect this,” Stovall said. “We were sitting in traffic like everyone else.”

Centerville crews got in front of the weather by treating major arteries with salt brine on Friday.

“Salt brine costs pennies per gallon to make and it will stay on roadways for several days,” Rob James, Centerville’s Public Works director said.

Coating roads with salt brine before a snowfall helps prevent ice from bonding to the pavement and speeds melting.

Dayton has fitted one truck to dispense salt brine and plans to experiment with it this season. In the meantime, cities across the region report a drop in salt prices compared to 2008. Dayton paid $62 a ton this year, compared to $144 per ton last year.

Staff writer Amelia Robinson contributed to this story.

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