Due to rigid winter weather in the United States last year, road salt supplies may be dwindling this season, causing prices to rise as local government prepares for the winter season. The following are some of the states who are running into the problem:

Ohio is known to have increased the most in terms of salt prices with many counties paying within the range of 43 up to 128 percent more than the previous year. The state came up with a solution by purchasing 170,000 tons of salt from suppliers housed in Indiana.

Like Us on Facebook

The salt supply in Indiana was also vigorously affected last winter and prices statewide have gone up nearly an average of 57 percent as compared to last year's prices from $72.59 to $105.89 per ton. The state has 142,000 tons of road salt so far, but this is less than what they had a year ago which was beyond 437,000 tons - way more than the five-year average of 352,000 tons per year.

Although the state officials in Washtenaw County paid 120 percent more for salt, Michigan's prices have also increased a record-breaking 46 percent. The county is strategizing ways to distribute salt more efficiently, including driving trucks at a slower pace and wetting the salt to avoid it from bouncing and scattering.

Meanwhile, most of salt contracts for North Carolina increased saw increases of 25 to 40 percent. To prevent these prices from going higher, they have been restocking supplies as of spring of last year.

Boston officials have purchased enough salt to complete 80 percent of their storage capacity. Nonetheless, Massachusetts is purchasing nearly 25 percent per ton more to fill up their supply this winter season. The state made an increase of about 36 percent at $71/ton as compared to the average of $52/ton. 

Wisconsin's officials are paying 14 percent more than average for this year. Todd Matheson, a state highways official, stated that the increase was expected yet they are thankful to have secured enough salt for distribution to hundreds of their municipalities and about 72 counties.

Last winter, Pennsylvania reported a moderate increase of about 8-9 percent and is reported to have used road salts with a volume of nearly 1.2 million tons - that's an increase of 43 percent.

Communities in Minnesota are also paying 4 percent more this season wherein the state was commended for securing prices as they have been saving supplies since spring. These prices are still expected to jump.

Finally, officials of Illinois say that the prices starts from $75/ton to about $130/ton which is way more than the average, $55.

Tagsroad salt, supply of road salt, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, minnesota, Illinois, winter