By Dan Marhsall

Nanaimo roads crews ready to roll, with arctic front on the way

Dec 4, 2016 | 9:33 AM

NANAIMO — You may have noticed some salt on the roads around Nanaimo already, and you can expect to see a lot more this week.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement, calling for the first arctic outbreak of the season with bitterly cold temperatures. The weather agency says flurries are possible overnight Sunday and Monday, with temperatures dropping through Tuesday. Overnight lows are expected to drop as low as minus five by Tuesday as the arctic front moves in. A strong incoming frontal system will likely bring more significant snowfall on Thursday, according to Environment Canada.

The city of Nanaimo has 18 pieces of equipment ready for salting and plowing, with an additional two that could be contracted out, according to manager of roads and traffic services David Myles.

He says crews are well prepared, should the snow forecast for Wednesday and Thursday materialize.

“Our equipment’s all ready to go, our trucks are all ready to go, and staff have all had their refresher training so they’re ready should we need to get out there and put down the plows and put down more salt,” said Myles.

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Regardless of the measures taken by the city, winter road conditions will have an impact on drivers, according to Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien.

“The one thing drivers have to do is slow down and leave enough room between yourself and the car in front of you to have time for extra braking,” said O’Brien.

Nanaimo has seen unseasonably mild winters for the past three years.

The Weather Network recently forecast close to average temperatures and above normal precipitation for the region over the next few months.