Oklahoma City crews prepare for winter weather

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Oklahoma City crews have been hard at work gearing up for the winter weather we’re expected to see on Thursday. 

“[With] slick roads, you don't know what's going to happen,” said Mike Love Jr., OKC Public Works Emergency Operations Manager. “All of us are great drivers until we get into a spot we can't control." 

Crews spent the last two days pretreating the city’s more than 1,700 mile snow route with a brine beet juice solution. The city said the solution will not stick to or stain your car. 

"For those who don't know, salt stops working at about ten degrees,” said Love Jr. “This gives it another 20 degrees working time so we can work into the negatives." 

Public Works crews will report to the city’s central maintenance facility at midnight. 32 trucks are ready to go. 

“To go into full salt mode and possible plowing depending on the type of precipitation we get in the next 24 hours,” said Love Jr. 

Love Jr. recommends drivers stay home if the roads are dicey. 

However, if you have to get out, make sure your car is prepared. 

"The extreme cold temperatures that we're fixing to have,” said Brian Thompson, the owner of Brian's Automotive Service in Edmond. “That is really hard on the vehicles." 

He suggests checking your car's tire pressure. 

“Manufacturers, either on the door jamb or the on door itself, will put a factory sticker here that shows what the tire size is and also what the PSI rating should be," said Thompson. 

Also, make sure your car’s battery has a 12-volt load. 

“So it doesn't leave you stranded anywhere,” said Thompson. “If you have any loose connections, that can interfere with the battery charging properly and or starting properly." 

You’ll also want to make sure you’re good on antifreeze and windshield wiper fluids. 

A link to the city’s snow routes can be found here.