Washtenaw County road crews are ready for the approaching winter storm, said Jim Harmon, director of field operations.

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When the snow starts flying Tuesday, Washtenaw County road crews will be ready, said Jim Harmon, director of field operations for the Road Commission.

Crews got an early start today on preventing slick roads from an approaching winter storm by putting down a salt brine solution on some of the primary two-lane paved roads in the county, Harmon said. When the brine dries, it leaves a salt residue that helps prevent snow and ice from bonding to the road surface, he said.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for Washtenaw County from 10 a.m. Tuesday through Wednesday morning. 

Amos Dodson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in White Lake Township, said the storm will likely drop 6-8 inches of snow on Washtenaw County. Areas farther north will get less, he said.

The snow is expected to start around lunchtime Tuesday, Dodson said. It will be heaviest from 6 p.m. to midnight. Winds of 15-20 mph gusting to 30 mph could cause some blowing, he said, but drifting shouldn't be severe. Temperatures will be in the 20s, with the wind chill factor in the teens. 

The snow should end Wednesday morning.

Because the bulk of the snow is expected to come overnight, Harmon said road crews scheduled for the day shift will be working into the evening. A four-person night crew usually starts at 8 p.m. 

"Depending on the severity of the storm and how our crews are holding up, we may add some people," he said. He expects the entire day shift of 46 trucks to be back on the road at 4 a.m. Wednesday.

Harmon said conditions were just right today to put down the anti-icing brine. It can only be used when roads are bare, when temperatures aren't too low and when the timing is right for crews to put it down when traffic isn't too heavy. Crews will likely be treating some highway bridge decks tonight, he said.

Road Commission workers also spent the day making sure all the equipment is working. "We have plenty of salt and sand," Harmon said. "We're ready."

Meanwhile, school officials are keeping an eye out for the storm. The Ann Arbor school district is closely monitoring the weather forecast, said district spokeswoman Liz Margolis.

“Brad (Mellor, the district’s transportation director) is monitoring with local forecasters and authorities starting today. Tomorrow will tell us better if this is actually going to happen," she said. "It depends on if it comes hard earlier tomorrow evening and doesn't let up or if most of it comes overnight.”

Wednesday is an important day for local school districts. It's one of two days when schools count students, and the state uses those numbers to determine funding for each district. Margolis said that won’t factor into the decision to close or stay open.

“If we close, count day will happen on Thursday. That won't be a factor. Safety will be the factor.”