Road crews warn drivers of below-freezing ground temperatures possibly causing icy travel conditions

While ABC 17 News Chief Meteorologist Sharon Ray predicted air temperatures to reach above freezing during a wintry mix and rainfall Sunday morning through afternoon, the ground temperatures are expected to stay below freezing for the majority of the day.

With ground temperatures below freezing, any rain or wintry mix expected to fall can turn to ice after touching the ground.

Columbia and Boone County Public Works crews said that, even though they have been pretreating the roads with a salt and sand mix on Sunday, the roads can be very dangerous to drive once ice forms.

Boone County crews have been pretreating roads and bridges since about 6 a.m. and Columbia crews have been doing the same since about 8 a.m.

Crews also warn drivers that the pretreatment could be washed off by the expected rain. They urge drivers to stay home for their safety.