Gaston County and the surrounding areas are under a Winter Weather Advisory until midnight on Monday (2/15/16).
The area is expected to see a mixture of freezing rain, sleet, and snow.
Officials are recommending that if you do not absolutely need to travel during this time, please stay off the roads.
If you have to travel, please follow the below safety guidelines courtesy of North Carolina Highway Patrol:
- Avoid travel unless necessary when winter weather is in your area.
- Decrease speed.
- Wear your seat belt.
- Allow more time for travel and increase distance between vehicles, because it takes significantly longer to stop on snow covered or icy roadways.
- Clear all windows on your vehicle prior to travel – having unobstructed vision is vital to avoid running off of the road or having a collision.
- Use caution on bridges and overpasses as they susceptible to freezing before roadways. Avoid using cruise control – cruise can cause the vehicle's wheels to continue turning on a slippery surface when speed needs to be decreased.
- Ensure your vehicle has a full tank of gas in the event you are stranded for an extended period of time.
- Charge your cell phone prior to departure.
- Notify a family member or a friend of your travel plans prior to departure, so if your travel is interrupted, someone will know.
- Collision information: First, be patient. Winter weather also limits NC Highway Patrol's capabilities and increases the response time. Keep in mind that there will be many requests for service. Attempt to move your vehicle out of the roadway if you are involved in a minor, non-injury traffic collision; especially if you are in a dangerous area such as a curve or a blind hill. If your vehicle is stranded or wrecked but not in the roadway, attempts to recover your vehicle will have to wait until conditions improve for safety considerations.
