Commuters, crews prepare for snow

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Commuters and crews prepared for the impending snowstorm Monday night.

Drivers battled the frozen roads in Vineland, New Jersey.

They were covered with snow that came through over the weekend. Residents like Carmen Perez are now preparing for the next round.

"Our roads really haven't gotten cleaned up. I don't know if it's because we're expecting more snow, it might just be a waste of time to clear it up," Carmen said.

Perez's daughter Amiyah hopes enough of the white stuff falls overnight to add up for a snow day.

Up the road at the Vineland Auto Zone it's been a very busy day

Store clerks say the freezing temperatures mean increased sales on car batteries, deicer and heavy duty windshield wipers.

"We had to restock our windshield wipers because we ran out of some many different kinds," employee Charmaine Garner said.

Further south in Millville, families were running out for those last minute food items.

Andrea DeTullio isn't sure how much snow she will wake up to, but she plans to be ready and to make it quality time with family.

"Hopefully there is no school for the next few days and we will be snowed in and watching a few movies," Andrea said.

Meanwhile in Philadelphia, PennDOT was on the clock with a full call out.

Hundreds of trucks are on the road to tackle what's hitting these cold roadways overnight and Tuesday morning.

The work for PennDOT started earlier in the evening with crews dealing with something they don't often see - frozen salt clumps.

Those single digit temperatures, way below zero wind chills, and moisture had workers bringing out the heavy machinery to loosen up the salt supply.

"The biggest challenge is with the salt itself. Salt becomes less effective at the lower temperatures," John Krafczyk of PennDOT said.

The Department of Transportation says the cold will impact the salt attack even more. Morning commuters will be traveling on snow covered roads, but they'll be passable thanks to a salt, gravel like mix.

"Adding anti-skid to the mix allows the traffic to churn that and keep it in a powdery state," Krafczyk said.

Drivers we ran into hours before the storm have their game plans ready.

"If we don't get that much, I may go out. But if we get what they expect us to get, I'm staying in," Elouise Moore of Southwest Philadelphia said.

PennDOT says it needs that traffic to help grind that solution into the road, but it will a slow go for commuters so pack the patience if you're out and about.

Philadelphia International Airport reports the following cancellations for Tuesday:

-American Airlines has 57 canceled arriving flights Tuesday morning and 39 departing canceled flights

-Delta has 5 canceled flights

-Southwest has 2 canceled flights

-United has 1 departing flight canceled