With more winter weather on the way, its effects on driving conditions are becoming more noticeable.

Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf says that the different kinds of winter precipitation can have different effects on the roads. He advises the most important thing is to know how the weather in the atmosphere affects precipitation.

Kempf mentions that in winter, most precipitation starts as snow, and as it falls it can change. If there’s a melting layer, or a warm layer of air, the snow will melt. He points out if the atmosphere stays warm, then it stays liquid and falls as rain. If the air cools down again and it refreezes, it becomes sleet. He adds, if it doesn’t refreeze until it hits the ground, then it’s freezing rain, but if there isn’t a melting layer, then it will stay as snow.

Kempf urges motorists to drive with caution during inclement winter weather.