Weather

In recent years, the winters have been less severe, but there are always cold snaps when mother nature reminds us just what she's capable of. When the cold weather does come, its effects are often most noticeable on the region's roads. So who decides when and where to grit? And how does it work?

Keeping the roads moving

We might know it as “grit” but it’s actually rock salt that keeps our roads ice and frost free. It works by lowering the freezing point of any moisture on the roads. But timing is everything since the rock salt can easily be blown away by the wind or washed away by the rain. In many ways, the science of keeping the roads clear is fairly low tech. However, the forecasting process definitely uses 21st century technology and that's where those strange tall, grey sensors you sometimes see at the side of the road come into the equation.

Paul Mooney and the roadside weather sensor

Sensing the weather

Sensors along the side of the roads help provide information for a 24-hour text forecast and the five day outlook. The Met office also provides graphs with a forecast for each site. They are very detailed and include information on if, when and for how long the road surface temperature dips below 0 Celsius.

The sensors record the actual windspeed, direction, air temperature and ground temperature. They allow the Met office to monitor the forecast and in turn alert the forecaster and the local authority, who grit some of the roads.

A lot of grit

Once the predictions are made, who takes up the baton of responsibility?

Ready for action at the gritting depot

Gritting of motorways and major roads is the responsibility of the Highways Agency. Gritting of other roads is the responsibility of local authorities. 

So rest assured, wherever you live across the North East & Cumbria, there's a dedicated team of specialists making the decisions and carrying them out. So have a thought as you're tucked up in a warm bed on a cold night for the teams who are out there making sure the roads are clear.