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Cold late today after the rain will cause icy conditions

SARANAC LAKE — The North Country is under a winter storm warning through 4 p.m. today as temperatures once again drop to the single digits before returning to negative lows on Saturday.

There is a 100 percent chance of precipitation continuing through the temperature drop, which is expected to create icy conditions on the roads and turn a soggy day into a frozen one. After one to 2 inches of rain during the day, the area is predicted to accumulate 8 to 12 inches of snow and ice overnight.

While the rain and snow is expected to slow and eventually stop on Saturday, the temperatures will drop back down below zero, getting as cold as -20 degrees again by tomorrow morning.

Winds ranging from five to 20 miles per hour today will also slow to single digit speeds in the upcoming days.

Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake’s Department of Public Works superintendents, Bill Dechene and Jeff Dora, respectively, said they will open drains and clear snow banks along the roads to clear them of water before the freezing temperatures set in, as well as sand several gravel roads.

“It will be all hands on deck,” Dechene said.

Dora said the Saranac Lake crews will leave a bit of slush on the roads to combat the ice, and will salt within reason. He cannot pre-salt like the Department of Transportation as the village has a much smaller salt budget. The six or seven DPW workers on the roads tonight will battle the ice and snow as it accumulates.

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