The snow tonight and tomorrow morning is unexpected after the sunny days of the past few weeks. And that also means that unexpected weather needs to be sprinkled against the slipperiness. The spreading season normally ends on March 31, but the gritters will work at least one day longer this year.
Normally, gritting services pack their things on March 31. They stay ready for the oncoming snow a little longer. Meerlanden, the gritting service in the regions of Haarlemmermeer-Amstelland, Kennemerland and Duin- en Bollenstreek, says it is completely ready for the oncoming snow and has enough material available. The agency is guessing precipitation will be minimal, especially compared to the east and south of the country.
Spokesperson Tom Scherder of Gooise Meren also reports that the gritting service in his municipality has sufficient people, salt and material available. “If necessary, the team leaders have hourly contact with the Meteorological Service about the weather forecasts. And if there is reason to do so, they turn out.”
To sprinkle or not to sprinkle?
The Noord-Holland municipalities decide during the day which measures are necessary, much depends on the weather. Laren remains sober about the predictions: extra measures are postponed until it is really necessary. Amstelveen spokesman Juke Warmerdam says to keep a close eye on the weather and to take into account ten centimeters of snow.
Warmerdam: “It can go in many directions. Ten centimeters of snow, that is not one, two, three pushed away, it takes you a while. The temperature is also important, if the road surface falls below zero degrees, we will immediately spreading and sliding. But it can also start to rain, then you cannot spread preventively, because then the salt washes away.”
Haarlemmermeer says it can only expect a few millimeters to a few centimeters, so spokesman Wim Koevoet is not worried. “Preventive spreading will be done at the beginning of the evening. The temperature will not fall below zero degrees, so there will not be much snow left.”