Wet winter weather increases icy road risk 13 November 2012
Hampshire road users are being reminded to take extra care this
winter as the saturated ground means that water runoff from
fields makes it more likely that rural roads will ice over
during cold weather. According to the Met Office, this summer
has officially been the wettest in one hundred years and there
appears to be no let up in rain as winter approaches. The
Environment Agency has recently released a warning that,
following further wet weather in September and October, rivers
are full and the ground is saturated, with the result that
current groundwater levels in some areas are extremely high and
water is seeping onto Hampshire's roads. Roads that would
normally dry quickly after precipitation are more likely to
remain wet and ice over when the road surface temperature drops
below zero. Councillor Mel Kendal, Deputy Leader and Executive
Member for Hampshire County Council said: "Road users need to
take extra care this winter because, due to the