Wright County is gearing up for a weather front that promises to turn one of the busiest shopping days of the year into a potential transportation headache. With a storm on the horizon, the Wright County Highway Department is actively preparing to manage the icy grasp that a wintry mix is expected to impose on roads come today. According to a statement from the Highway Department, the situation is fluid, but plans are underway to counteract the forecasted switch between snow, freezing rain, and sleet.
Nate Helgeson, the Highway Maintenance Superintendent, is not painting a comforting picture, especially as snowfall is slated to start early Saturday post 1 a.m., turning into a slick combination of freezing rain and sleet as morning temperatures rise, and then, the forecast suggests a swing back to snow around 11 a.m., respecting no one's plans, before concluding with another bout of freezing rain in the late afternoon. Amidst this meteorological juggling act, road conditions are expected to be hazardous despite low accumulation levels.
Responders from the Highway Department will commence their watch at the stroke of midnight, with plows likely rolling out in the dead of night to confront the accumulating precipitation. With the mercury hovering in the mid-20s and peaking near the freezing point, Helgeson assured that their arsenal of liquid de-icer and salt is up to the task, being notably effective within such a temperature range.
"We understand that there is going to be a lot of traffic on the roads with people getting Christmas shopping done," Helgeson said and this statement obtained by Wright County The department's plea is simple: drivers are urged to give the plows the necessary space to function safely and efficiently, ensuring a secure round trip for all amid the wintry tumult. "Our crew is going to do its best to keep the roads as safe as we can. All we ask is if you see one of our plows, please give us the room we need to get the job done and get everyone to where they going and back again safely," he added, highlighting the push for collective responsibility on the roads.
