Houston weather: What is black ice?
HOUSTON - Following a quiet, slightly milder day, ice will be much more isolated in nature overnight Wednesday night even as lows fall slightly below freezing.
Black ice forms readily on bridges, overpasses and the road beneath overpasses. This is because the cold air is able to cool both the top and under the bridge or overpass, bringing about faster freezing.
What is black ice?
Black Ice:
Black ice is a deadly driving hazard defined as patchy ice on roadways or other transportation surfaces that cannot easily be seen. It tends to form on parts of the road without much sunshine, such as along a tree-lined route or a tunnel. It will also form more frequently on roads that are less traveled on.
It is often clear (not white) with the black road surface visible underneath.
It is most prevalent during the early morning hours, especially after snow melts on the roadways and has a chance to refreeze overnight when the temperature drops below freezing.
Black ice can also form when roadways are slick from rain and temperatures drop below freezing overnight.
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What to do if you hit black ice
If you do hit black ice, your first reaction must be to remain calm and avoid overreacting. The general rule is to do as little as possible and allow the car to pass over the ice. Do not hit the brakes, and try to keep the steering wheel straight.
If you feel the back end of your car sliding left or right, make a very gentle turn of the steering wheel in the same direction. If you try to struggle against it by steering in the opposite direction, you risk skidding or spinning out.
Lift your feet off the accelerator completely and keep your steering wheel fixed in the position it's in.
Slowing down will give you more control and prevent needless damage.
Do not touch the brakes. Doing so will likely cause you to skid. The idea is to slide over the ice in the direction the steering wheel is facing; usually black ice patches aren't longer than 20 feet.
Forecast
Although the snow falling from the sky has passed through, what has melted away will re-freeze as the temperatures drop overnight.
Lighter winds, sunshine and dry conditions will help Southeast Texas thaw on Wednesday as highs should reach the mid 40s.
Highs on Thursday have a good chance of hitting the low 50s and that trend will continue through the weekend. Highs in the 50s return on Friday with 60s for the weekend. Watch for rainy weather to return on Sunday and continue until Tuesday, but temperatures will stay well above freezing, so no more snow.
The Source: Information in this article is from FOX 26 Houston meteorologists, the National Weather Service, and the U.S. Forest Service.