Snow emergency declared in Spa City
Goes into effect today at 9 a.m.
ALBANY, N.Y. » The National Weather Service said 6 to 10 inches of snow could hit the Capital Region on Wednesday.
The snow is expected to start falling by mid-morning Wednesday, and should taper off by the late evening hours.
However, the agency said travel could be difficult in the late evening hours Wednesday, as the heaviest snowfall is expected during the afternoon.
Saratoga Springs declared a snow emergency — which will begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday and run until Friday, Feb. 9 at 9 p.m. — to allow the Department of Public Works crews and employees to clear the snowfall predicted.
“It’s important that residents move their vehicles to cleared spots so that plows are able to clear the roadways,” Commissioner of Public Works Anthony “Skip” Scirocco said. “I also stress the importance of being aware that large plows and DPW employees will be working in the road during this weather event.”
Residents in Saratoga Springs are required to move their vehicles to a plowed or cleared area during a snow emergency. Vehicles on alternate side parking streets should continue to adhere to the posted signs indicating which sides allow for parking each day, but should move their vehicles to cleared spots on the appropriate side when possible.
“In the weather is as significant as the forecast indicates, we stress the importance of avoid-
ing any unnecessary travel,” said Scirocco. “If road travel is required, please take caution and be considerate of other vehicles and emergency workers.”
Saratoga County’s Commissioner of Public Works, Keith Manz, said the county’s well prepared for the storm. Morton Salt, based in Chicago, supplies salt for the county. Manz said there’s no shortage of salt in the department’s shed. Normally, a storm requires 800 to 1,000 tons of salt, and Manz estimates the department has about five to six storms worth in the salt shed.
Manz said the county’s on par with last year in terms of salt usage, overtime and fuel costs, but he said less salt has been used per mile this year as opposed to last year because of the salt type.
“You can use less and it works at lower temperature because it’s magnesium chloride treated,” said Manz.
Manz explained the salt goes by different names like magic salt.
“You can put less down,” said Manz. “It sticks to the road better because it’s wetted with magnesium chloride so it’s a little heavier and sticker so it doesn’t roll off the road as quickly.”
Similarly, the city of Troy and Rensselaer County said they are in really good shape with their salt sheds. Wayne Bonesteel, the county engineer, said it has to do with the light winter season from last year.
Normally, the county’s highway department uses around 1,000 tons for a fairsize storm. Bonesteel said there’s been more overtime expended this year than last year at this time, but he considers it a fairly normal winter as far as the amount of time workers are out on the road.
Since the storm’s slated to begin in mid-morning, Bonesteel said the department will come in at 7 to be well prepared to be out on the road when the snow begins.
Saratoga Springs City School District has used two snow days and has four total. A decision has not yet been made about what would occur if the district uses more than four days.
The Troy City School District has used one snow day.
The snow Wednesday might not be the only snow fall of the week. Meteorologists don’t anticipate snow Thursday, but over the weekend there appears to be a chance of some snow accumulation.