It may not be snowing or raining but the extreme cold is causing some slippery conditions on the roads.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has declared a "significant weather event".
Ryan Brown, director of Public Works, said the low temperatures and blowing snow are creating poor driving conditions, and road salt isn't working as well as it normally does.
"Salt is extremely effective down to the -12 C or -15 C range," said Brown. "Once you get beyond that, the effectiveness can be really reduced."
Brown said even though snowplows have been out around the clock, drivers should still be aware that speeds may need to be reduced, especially on rural roads. Sidewalks may also be slippery.
"All of the Public Works crews have been out, they're all working on all of the back roads," he said. "With this extreme cold, it may take a little more time and some ice may remain in certain areas until the weather warms up."
To declare a "significant weather event" is fairly new for the municipality as it coincides with recent provincial changes in the spring of 2018 that have to do with the Minimum Maintenance Standards Act.
"This was one of the items [changed] to give municipalities an option to recognize that significant weather events put a great burden on our Public Works crews and to give them the time they need to make sure the roadways are safe for everybody," he said.
Environment Canada is calling for milder air to move through the region on Friday.
Brown said once the temperatures do start moving upwards, the municipality will be able to remove the "significant weather event" declaration.
