Memphis Suburbs Pretreated Roads, But Need Mother Nature's Help

Suburban officials say salt and sand mixture only works when temperatures are around 20 degrees.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 12:23pm

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Several suburban officials in the Memphis area noted they pretreated major roads with a salt and sand mixture ahead of a winter storm. While they continue to treat the roads, that mixture only works when temperatures are approximately 20 degrees.

Why it matters

Memphis suburbs often face challenges keeping roads clear during winter weather, as the region does not experience frequent heavy snowfall. Pretreating roads is a common strategy, but its effectiveness is limited by temperature constraints.

The details

Suburban officials in areas like Collierville and Germantown applied a salt and sand mixture to major roads before the winter storm hit. However, this mixture only works when temperatures are around 20 degrees Fahrenheit. As temperatures dropped below that threshold, the mixture became less effective, requiring additional treatment and reliance on Mother Nature to help clear the roads.

  • The winter storm hit the Memphis area on January 30, 2026.

The players

Collierville

A suburban city located just outside of Memphis, Tennessee.

Germantown

Another suburban city in the Memphis metropolitan area.

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The takeaway

The Memphis suburbs' reliance on pretreating roads with a salt and sand mixture highlights the challenges the region faces in keeping roads clear during winter weather, as the effectiveness of this strategy is limited by temperature constraints. The suburbs will need to continue working with Mother Nature to ensure safe road conditions.