With snow falling, DelDOT ‘ready’

The National Weather Service says you can likely add something else to those frigid temperatures outside in Delaware today — snow.

The agency says a storm may bring 1 to 3 inches in the central and lower parts of the state, with lighter amounts in the north. The snow is expected to arrive early in the afternoon, but an advisory will remain in effect until 7 p.m. tonight.

Because the ground is cold, snow will accumulate quickly. But officials with the Delaware Department of Transportation say they are up to the challenge of any snow that may come today and the rest of the winter.

“Yes, we are ready,” said DelDOT spokesman Jim Westhoff. “We just finished our annual inspection of the trucks and equipment. More importantly, our people are ready. We have been training and getting prepared.”

Westhoff says DelDOT has 500 people, 460 pieces of equipment and full stockpiles of salt, approximately 65,000 tons in more than 20 locations throughout the state, available to battle the snow.

And despite last winter’s record snowfall, the state has not been forced to cut any corners this year.

“In fact,” Westhoff said, “the heavy snows last winter gave us an opportunity to see where we can do better when it comes to big snow storms.”

In the event of snow, Westhoff is reminding drivers to double the distance they would typically give themselves to stop.