Chilliwack roads are sporting those telltale white stripes.
That means there’s snow in the forecast.
City of Chilliwack’s Operations Department is looking at the forecasted 20 to 30 cm of snow for Chilliwack as a worst-case scenario.
But they’re getting ready nonetheless.
Those white marks that can be seen on dry roads all over Chilliwack are from the salt brine sprayed in preparation for the snow expected overnight Thursday.
The brine will work down to about -7 degrees, turning ice into meltwater once it hits the freezing mark.
It’s effective because the briny water stops that initial bond of ice and snow to the road surface, kicking off the melting process.
So they’ve “brined” all the roads this week, and will reapply as needed.
City of Chilliwack also has 14 sanders loaded with salt and sand ready to fan out, according to Operations staff.
Crews have already been sanding on the hillsides including parts of Ryder Lake, Chilliwack Mountain and the Eastern Hillsides.
At this time of year, city officials are monitoring the weather forecasts, and filling up the salt bins.
Prices for road salt dipped about 10 per cent this year to $85 per tonne, down from $95 per tonne last year.
City reps now have the potential to store 2500 tonnes of salt in the new Operations Centre on Luckakuck Way.
How Chilliwack gets hit, depends on the prevailing east winds, and the Arctic outflow direction.
To find out where a road fits on the priority list for snow removal, check out the snow and ice control page, www.chilliwack.com
