Black ice is the clear glaze of ice on the roads you can't see. It forms as wet roads turn icy when temperatures drop.
Author: Margaret Vancampen Published: 2:26 PM EST January 29, 2022 Updated: 2:26 PM EST January 29, 2022
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Black ice. Everybody talks about 'black ice' whenever snow, sleet and freezing temperatures happen, but what is it exactly? Black ice is the clear glaze of ice on the roads you can't see. It forms as wet roads turn icy when temperatures drop. Even a little dew can cause black ice. It can happen anywhere the conditions are right, but bridges and overpasses are especially prone. That's because you've got cold air flowing above and below the pavement. Another danger-prone area is shaded spots on the road, mainly because they don't get sunlight. Here are some tips on what you should do if you hit black ice:
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Black ice—that thin coating of transparent ice on roadways, sidewalks and parking lots—is treacherous. It’s hard to see, can build up quickly and is extremely dangerous to both pedestrians and drivers. 5 Facts You Need to Know About Black IceEMC Senior Engineer Larry Readout helps you understand five key facts about how black ice forms and why it can be so dangerous.
Take Action Against Black IceHypervigilance is critical to discovering and managing black ice. Include these steps as part of your routine winter maintenance procedures:
Black ice can occur on any roadway but is more likely to develop on bridges, shaded areas and overpasses. The ice may appear to be a wet spot and you may not discover the glaze until you begin to slide. Here are some preventative actions you can take when driving in thaw-refreeze conditions:
Jan 6, 2022 Wet or frozen? / ollo/iStock via Getty Images Despite what its name suggests, black ice isn’t actually black—it’s clear. So clear, in fact, that it appears to be the color of whatever surface is beneath it. Since that’s often a black asphalt road, we call it “black ice.” The transparent nature of black ice is because it’s much thinner than other ice, which also makes it more hazardous. Picture a road blanketed by snow that fell during the morning. The sun comes out in the afternoon and melts the snow. But the road is still wet when the sun sets, and as the temperature drops below freezing, that water solidifies into an almost imperceptibly thin layer of ice. That’s black ice. As The Weather Channel explains, the same thing can happen if the temperature drops below freezing after a rain shower has left surfaces wet or after dew or fog condenses to form ice. The main reason black ice is so dangerous is because it’s difficult to see. If you’re approaching a patch of thick, opaque ice—while driving or walking—you’d likely try to avoid it altogether, or at least decrease your speed considerably and proceed with the utmost caution. With black ice, on the other hand, you may not know it’s there until it’s right under you. And if you do manage to see it beforehand, you might mistakenly think the surface in question is simply coated with water, not ice. Since cars and feet alike can handle wetness without too much trouble, you might not see the need to slow down or alter your path. The most effective way to avoid black ice is simply to stay home if there’s a winter weather advisory for icy driving conditions. If that’s not possible, you can try to avoid—or at least be extra careful in—areas where black ice is especially common: bridges, overpasses, and shady stretches of pavement. In general, when temperatures are around or below freezing, don’t assume a wet patch is just a wet patch. Here are some more helpful driving tips to keep you safe during the winter. |