Warning issued of icy roads
Roads are expected to be “extremely hazardous” from tomorrow afternoon as forecasters predict a rapid drop in temperature.
The council’s highways department have issued a warning because the combination of rain followed by a sharp drop in temperature could mean even roads which have been gritted could freeze.
Nick Tupper, highways maintenance manager, said: “The forecast weather pattern is one of the hardest for us to deal with. Arctic air is expected to reach Norfolk on Thursday afternoon, bringing a sudden freeze after rain and snow. Timing the gritting run will be critical. The roads will already have been treated before the rain and snow arrives, and we will have crews on standby ready to start gritting as soon as it clears.”
He added: “However, a complete gritting run takes around three hours, and with temperatures expected to plunge well below freezing, there is a risk that roads will become very icy. Road surfaces are forecast to get down to -7C, and at that temperature road salt becomes much less effective at clearing ice.”
The very cold weather is expected to continue through the weekend.
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