Black ice is clear, and completely invisible on dark road surfaces making it dangerous for drivers with the RSA dubbing it as one of winter’s worst hazards for road users
Empty country road in winter(Image: )
Met Eireann has issued a status yellow warning for wind, as the impacts of Storm Goretti continue to across much of Northern Europe.
France, Britain and Germany have seen major issues with power outages and suspended public transport links. On Sunday, January 11, the Yellow Wind Warning will come into play for Clare, Kerry, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo.
Possible impacts include loose objects being moved by the wind, fallen trees, and wave overtopping alongside difficult travel conditions. Hazardous conditions tonight and tomorrow morning due to icy roads are also a possibility, so road users should be cautious.
Cathal Nolan of Ireland’s Weather Channel warns that icy road conditions and even dangerous black ice could be a possibility tonight, due to the combination of damp conditions and low temperatures. He said: “It’s a dry bright picture at the moment across the country, though it is still on the cool side.
“Last night of course we saw temperatures dip widely down to freezing and we saw black ice developing on many road surfaces, any untreated road surfaces and footpaths last night were treacherous this morning, multiple reports of cars going off roads and indeed there is a little bit of a repeat scenario likely tonight. Clear skies initially this evening will mean temperatures drop down low, getting below freezing in parts of the east and north in particular.”
Black ice is clear, and completely invisible on dark road surfaces making it dangerous for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike. Because it is smooth and lacks air bubbles – the thing that makes most ice appear white and visible – there is almost zero friction for tires or shoe soles to grip on to.
The roads could be dangerous due to black ice and patches of freezing fog(Image: Collins Photo Agency)
The Road Safety Authority warns: “If the road looks polished or glossy it could be, “black ice” one of winter’s worst hazards. Black Ice is difficult to see.
“It is nearly transparent ice that often looks like a harmless puddle or is overlooked entirely. Watch out for black ice, especially in sheltered shaded areas on roads, under trees and adjacent to high walls.”
Ireland’s Weather Channel added that rain tonight may raise the chances of dangerous icy conditions: “We have these more organized areas of showers out to our west and north west at the moment. Within the next hour or two, they’ll start to push into parts of Galway, into parts of Mayo, into Clare, Kerry, West Limerick before spreading their way across the country through this evening and tonight, meaning that some of those showers will fall onto frozen surfaces, meaning a risk of black ice, and similarly so as they clear off again tonight.
“Temperatures towards dawn tomorrow will drop close to or indeed below freezing in some locations meaning further ice and dangerous driving conditions are likely tomorrow be aware of that as well into tomorrow.”
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