Since over 75% of Baldwin County’s population has moved here since 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, many residents might not remember the January 2014 “Snowmageddon.”

Or the Great Icing, as maybe more appropriately dubbed by an editor at Gulf Coast Media who has lived in the Foley area her whole life and remembers the storm like it was yesterday. Winter precipitation caused headaches for four days starting Jan. 28, 2014, when snow and sleet stranded cars on roadways and caused nine deaths from vehicle accidents, AL.com reported on the 10-year anniversary of the event last year.  Alabama State Troopers responded to 731 vehicle accidents across the state, the outlet reported.

Tomorrow is expected to be similar temperature wise to the storm that brought more ice than snow to roadways over a decade ago, according to forecasts, including AEMA Meteorologist Jim Stefkovich.

“Many locations across the I-20 corridor (where roads were a sheet of ice) had 2 inches or less of total snowfall for the 2014 event. For Tuesday into Wednesday, any snowfall, especially on untreated roads, has the potential to cause immediate and hazardous driving conditions once it begins,” he wrote over the weekend.

In a twist from the seemingly logical, heavier snowfall is expected south of I-20. Alabama Department of Transportation crews are pretreating major roadways, but even with treatment and response efforts, road conditions in some areas may become challenging.

Pretreatment is dependent on whether rain precedes or accompanies the wintry precipitation, as rain can wash away pretreatment materials, according to ALDOT. They began some pretreatment operations Saturday evening/night, but most pretreatment operations were planned for Sunday and Monday.

ALDOT prioritizes bridges and interstate highways first, followed by U.S. and state highways based on traffic volume.

TIPS FOR MOTORISTS

It is encouraged that people stay off the road if conditions become snowy or icy. If you do have to drive, here are some safety tips:

• Avoid travel until conditions improve: Once winter precipitation begins, ALDOT urges motorists to avoid travel during adverse weather and roadway conditions. 
• Slow down: Reduce your speed and increase your following distance, allowing extra room to stop. Plan additional travel time to reach your destination.
• Be aware of black ice: Bridges and overpasses are particularly susceptible to black ice, which is a thin, invisible layer of ice.
• Avoid sudden braking and steering: These actions can cause your vehicle to lose control.
• Turn on your headlights: This will make your vehicle more visible to other drivers.
• Avoid using cruise control on icy roads: This can cause you to lose control of your vehicle if you hydroplane.
• Watch for workers: Be aware of emergency personnel and crews treating and clearing roadways.
• Move crashed vehicles: In the event of a minor crash, safely move vehicles off the roadway if possible to maintain access for first responders and treatment crews. Do not abandon vehicles in travel lanes.