Officials shifted their concern Sunday night from snow to ice on New Jersey roadways as temperatures began to drop into overnight hours.
"We're expecting a bitter cold tonight," said Chief Andrew Toth, director of Edison Emergency Management. "When the road's wet, you can have black ice. You can't see the ice, and people that aren't familiar, you can have an accident, and you can hurt somebody else. Our main goal is safety."
Officials said the main priority was getting salt on the roads going into Monday morning.
They advised drivers to be cautious, even with crews are working to keep roads passable.
"Under 18 degrees, it's not effective. So, we're supposed to hit 9 and 6 degrees this week. If you have wet patches on the ground and salt is on it, it's not going to do anything," Toth said.
New Jersey State Police said the best tips for driving in winter weather are:
- Slow down — icy roads increase stopping distance
- Leave extra space between vehicles
- Clear all snow and ice from your vehicle before driving
- Avoid sudden braking or sharp turns
- Watch for black ice
- Use headlights in low visibility
- If conditions worsen, pull over safely and wait