Warning: Potential for dangerous sheet ice across Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire County Council issues a roads warning ahead of unique weather pattern heading towards the county TONIGHT - Tuesday 6 January into Wednesday 7 January. 

The following release is from Lincolnshire County Council. We are sharing it to help spread the word about potentially hazardous conditions on the roads overnight and into the morning. 

Message from Lincolnshire County Council: 

Drivers in Lincolnshire are being warned that a unique set of weather conditions heading for the county in the coming hours will lead to some of the worst driving conditions in recent years.

Since the end of December, plummeting temperatures have seen much of the region’s road network sitting below zero, and with recent snowfall adding to the tricky conditions, things are tough - but that’s about to be superseded.

According to weather forecasts, and informed by county weather stations that LCC have in place around Lincolnshire for incredibly accurate ground-temperature information, a set of weather changes are about to form a unique set of challenges.

It will start with temperatures rising slightly as the day ends, this will then be followed by a series of rain and sleet showers that will not only wash away the essential salt already put down this afternoon, but will then soak the roads before the temperatures drop severely once more.

Those conditions are likely to leave potentially dangerous sheet ice across many roads in Lincolnshire.

LCC’s gritting team is preparing for these conditions with thousands of tonnes of specially-treated salt ready to be spread by the 47-strong gritting fleet of state-of-the-art machines, but the predicted weather will mean that only so much of what can be done overnight will be effective.

Darrell Redford, Network Resilience Manager at Lincolnshire County Council said:

“We want to be very clear about this – the roads will be extremely slippery as a result of these weather patterns. We have our entire fleet out around the clock, and we have 22,500 tonnes of specially-treated salt to put on the roads. 

“Our entire team is doing every single thing that we can, and we will continue to work through the day and night, as we have since the cold weather arrived.

“But we can’t be everywhere on our 5,500-mile-long road network. We are using the very latest equipment and technology to get the most salt down where it will benefit the most road users and this is the best strategy.

"However, in extremes such as this, we want to get the word out to everyone about being extra vigilant.

“In terms of roads, these will be the worst weather conditions in years. The severity of what will happen to the salt we’re putting down with the warming up, the rain and then the severe re-freeze can’t be overstated.

"We will be salting after the rain, but this may still leave tricky conditions. Especially for roads off the salted network.

“Our advice is to only travel if you absolutely must. If you do have to travel, give yourself extra time to make the journey, and give other road users extra space and consideration as you go.

“Even with our around-the-clock and very extensive efforts for the county, tonight and into tomorrow will see treacherous road conditions remain for everyone.”