CLEVELAND — If you're hitting the roads over the next couple of days, buckle up. Seriously, we mean it. Road conditions in Northeast Ohio will not be good at all.
In fact, the city of Akron says it will be outright dangerous as the storm shifts from rain to ice, then from ice to snow. It's a bad situation that doesn't allow them to treat the roads in advance.
It's also very likely that we'll see some drivers get themselves into trouble. That's where AAA comes in.
"We get a lot of additional calls for people that are in situations where they maybe slid off the road or if they’re stuck somewhere and they need winched out or pulled out of a tough situation," explains AAA East Central spokesperson Jim Garrity.
Garrity says call volume from stranded motorists increases tremendously when a storm hits, meaning you should be ready in case it takes awhile for help to get to you.
"If you and your family had to sit at the roadside for a couple hours, what would you need to have in the car? That’s what you need to pack," he advises.
Head to the store now to make sure you have all the necessities in case you get stuck in a bad spot. Some things you'll want to have include:
- Some type of shovel to dig yourself out
- An ice scraper
- Rock salt to get some traction
- If you're still stuck, you want to have blankets, water, and non-perishable food items to tide you over while you're hunkered down.
The most important preparation for your car in this weather is to make sure you have at least a half tank of gas.
"You’re going to want as much gas in that car as possible just so you can keep it on and keep yourself warm and keep your family warm and safe," says Garrity. "Keep your cell phones charged and everything you need to bridge that gap to getting off the road."
If you have those things we listed, you'll be in a better position if the worst happens. But your best best is to not leave your home at all.
"If you don’t have to go anywhere, don’t. Stay home if you can," Garrity adds.
That's the message we keep hearing from experts all across the area. ODOT will have all hands on deck starting early Wednesday. The same is true for Northeast Ohio cities as well. However, the honest truth is they may not be able to keep up. So be prepared and be careful.
More Northeast Ohio winter stories:
- High-impact winter storm timeline: What to expect from school closings to traffic conditions
- ODOT warns roads will likely be snow and ice-covered even with crews in full force during winter storm
- FORECAST | Winter Storms a Brewin'
- A look at the all-time record for snowfall events in Cleveland's history