The most hazardous types of snow

In the daily hustle and bustle, car owners may not pay attention to the significant differences between similar weather and road conditions at first glance. This is especially acute during the winter period, when ice and snow appear on the road. Today, we will talk about how significantly the traction on snow can differ and what factors it depends on. 

Snowfalls occur as a result of various phenomena that differ in intensity and cause and are subject to classification, but to assess the road situation, it is necessary to take into account the main factors that affect the type of snow and its degree of danger. 

Air temperature
One of the main factors that affects the state of snow and the degree of tire contact with the road surface. How much snow sticks together ultimately affects traction. If the air temperature is below 10-15 degrees, the snow significantly reduces the tire's contact patch with the road, and the braking distance increases proportionally to the chosen speed. If the temperature is above -10°C, then even the presence of snow in the contact patch does not mean that the tire is not working. In fact, snow in the tire tread ensures traction with the snow on the road. 

Sunlight
At first glance, it seems trivial, but this is a very unpredictable factor. Direct sunlight can change the structure of snow even at low temperatures. However, in this case, much depends on the amount of snow on the road and the intensity of traffic. Because with a large amount of snow, a crust forms on the surface, under which there is still quite loose snow, which is dangerous for driving. 

Wind intensity
There are such concepts as "wind crust" or "wind plate". The presence of such terms does not give reason to doubt that the wind has a significant impact on the characteristics of snow. First of all, it is necessary to assess the windy weather in combination with the air temperature and traffic intensity. Especially windy weather can be dangerous on open road sections with low traffic intensity. In this case, snowdrifts covered with a crust may form on the road. In this case, it is necessary to overcome such sections with caution at a reduced speed. 

Presence of road reagents
The use of road reagents opens up a whole world of special snow conditions. More precisely, not snow, but a mass that often remains on the road. Yes, there is no more snow and ice on the road, but there is a jelly-like substance that also has a high degree of slipperiness. According to the regulations, this mass should be removed after a certain time of applying the reagent. But often, the intensity of traffic does not allow for this. Be vigilant, as the mass that remains on the road after applying road reagents often remains even at positive temperatures. 

The amount of snowfall and weather conditions create a unique road situation every day. Be vigilant and assess the road situation before getting behind the wheel.