Icy conditions will stick - December 13, 2005

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2005-12-15

Document text

Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 13, 2005 This view from Hillcrest Road in East Medford on Monday shows a thick layor of fog blanketing the Rogue Valley. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Icy conditions will stick Weather pattern is expected to persist through the end of the week, says the weather servive By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Icy roads will continue to plague the Rogue Valley through the week as a strong high pressure system traps in a thick layer of fog. "We don’t know when it’s going to break," said Connie Clarstrom, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Similar weather patterns, with lows in the upper 20’s and highs in the low to mid 40’s, should persist until Thursday or Friday. Because it was so cold, Medford airport officials conducted cloud seeding Monday to break up the fog, allowing planes to take off and land. "I think we’ll be seeding quite a bit," said airport director Bern Case. Advertisement After the seeding Monday, a light coating of snow fell near Highway 62. In fog seeding, a plane dispenses dry ice pellets that turn the water in the fog into snow. That opens up clear areas in the fog so flights have enough visibility to take off and land. Case said no flights were canceled Monday morning. To keep the roads from getting too slick, the county has been putting out sand and cinders to provide more traction around corners. County road engineer Dale Petrasek said he expects to place 2,500 cubic yards of sand on roads this year, the equivalent of 300 truck loads. In addition, snow plows will clear about 10,000 of roadway this year. The county has a contract with the Oregon Department of Transportation to de-ice roads. With eight truck sanders, 14 plows and seven graders, county maintenance workers begin sanding the roads at 4 a.m. "We’re getting out ahead of school buses," said Petrasek. He expects the roads will have to be treated every morning for the rest of the week as the icy weather continues. Long-range forecasts show that a weather front probably won’t hit the valley until this weekend or early next week. "We’ll have fog for the next few days," said Clarstrom. "We’ll be staying in the freezing range. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail Icy conditions will stick ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home  | Local News  | Sports  | Business  | Obituaries  | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives  |  Site Map  | Community  | Classified   Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Advertisement s