Tri-State Area Faces Icy Conditions As Municipalities Deal With Salt Shortages

Black ice and a shortage of road salt caused some major problems throughout the Tri-State area after a second big storm this week. The icy conditions prompted the National Weather Service to issue a winter weather advisory that expired at 10 a.m. today for much of the area.

Forecasters say slush and standing water from Wednesday’s snowstorm turned into ice as temperatures plunged below freezing overnight.

The heavy snow and ice this winter has left many municipalities dealing with an increasing salt shortage, CBS 2′s Tony Aiello reported.

In New Jersey, Hudson County officials said they’ve asked their vendor for 1,000 tons this week, but only 50 is available.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered 3,500 tons of stockpiled road salt to be sent downstate where supplies are running low.

“We have enough salt to help areas that have a truly dire situation, like Long Island and the New York City area,” Cuomo said.

So far this winter, NYC’s Department of Sanitation has spread more than 346,000 tons of road salt. That’s compared to 183,000 tons last winter and a mere 59,000 tons the winter before that, Aiello reported. Read more at CBS NY.

{Matzav.com Newscenter}