BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) Western New Yorkers awakened to some serious ice Thursday. The morning commute was challenging, especially for anyone who parked their car outside.
"Call volume has been steady, but manageable," said Elizabeth Carey of the AAA of Western New York. "A lot of people are calling for emergency road service. Either they need to be towed, or they can't get into their car."
A mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain resulted in vehicles being encrusted in ice. Drivers needed anywhere from ten to twenty minutes to scape their windows. Getting into vehicles was a separate challenge.
"They do have commercial lock deicers that you can spray right into the lock. That often helps," added Carey. "Some people try to put hot water on the car, but we don't recommend that. It can lead to other problems, such as thermal shock which can break or crack the windshield." The AAA also suggests that you avoid pounding on the ice and not to use a scraper on painted surfaces.
Carey said hundreds of calls came in for service Thursday. Calls are prioritized based on the order that they are received. In severe weather events, people that need to be rescued on the road move to the top of the list. That was not the case on Thursday.
Normally, February is a very busy month for roadside service at the AAA. But not this year. "Call volume is down for the month because it has been so mild. But today's numbers are way up compared to an average February day."
Carey noted it is helpful that most schools are not in session this week. And other schools, that are in session, decided to close for the day. "That alleviated a lot of calls and helped make the response a lot more manageable."
