Originally Posted By: jaj
Originally Posted By: MolaKule
...the surface temperature was near 32F and when the snow hit hard and fast, the snow on the surface was packed-down and turned into an (unseen) ice film very quickly [...] it was 4 wheel drive mode there and back and very tricky.
Where I live on the coast in western Canada, snow like that is the only snow we ever get. What happens is the air and the pavement are just warm enough that nothing freezes, so there's water mixed into the packed snow, making it extremely slippery. It's like driving on grease, and walking is no better - lots of sprains and broken limbs on a snow day. What's worse, if the municipal crews get out before the snow and spray a layer of ice melter, it actually makes it worse for the first few hours. Once it all gets mixed in and the road is covered in slush, it's fine. Until then, it's lethal.
I agree. Around here, usually the night before if they know snow/colder temps are coming, they spray a brine on the roads but if we get above a couple inches, it makes things much worse, imo!
The brine will melt the first cm or 2 but if it comes down quick and is more than that, it is just like driving through greasy slop with practically zero traction.
They are further ahead to salt/plow than to put that sh*t down, imo.