Quote:
Originally Posted by poohbear_nc
For some reason, the brine 'pre-treatment' seemed to attract & hold the snow - the roads piled up with snow immediately - even the major routes (like route 54 - where I was) - which set off the panic with folks driving way too slowly to maintain traction on the snow-packed surface.
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Brine is only good for about .5" of snow, after that it's too dilute - it's only about 25% solution to begin with. Brine pre-treating is really only used to stop the snow or ice from gripping to the road (it's supposed to create a layer of slush) until the plows can get it off the road, or more salt is applied. The wetter snow on top of the slush holds more of the incomming drier snow, making a "snow magnet" as more cars grind more snow into the mix. Once it's dilute enough, it will freeze to almost an ice cream sort of texture. The only way to stop this is to add more salt or plow it off before it freezes. Too many cars on the road, the plows (probably none too many in your area to begin with!) can't get through in time, and pre-brining is useless.
One good thing, though. The freezing rain came after there was a layer of snow. The other way around is much, much worse.