Illinois Drivers Warned of Possible Black Ice Conditions

If you're traveling anywhere in Illinois over the next couple of days, you need to be aware that there is a definite danger that black ice conditions could be a hazard you'll need to deal with.

Why the sudden concern about black ice in Illinois?

Much of Illinois has been hammered with significant rain to start Thursday. I drove to the radio station this morning in a torrential downpour. That's not a problem when temperatures are as warm as they are at the moment, but they will not stay that way as in a few hours, many parts of Illinois will dip back below the freezing mark. That means the moisture on the road that doesn't evaporate will transform into ice and I'm not the only one who has that concern based on this share by the Illinois Weather Community on Facebook.

While I don't enjoy any kind of winter driving, I prefer snowy roads over icy ones any day. When most people are driving on snow, they are aware of the need to be careful. On a day like today, what looks like a normal road could have patches of black ice where you'll lose grip without any warning. As the Illinois Weather Community mentioned in their post, be especially mindful of overpasses and bridges which will be the first places where black ice could form. Sidewalks and parking lots could also be very iffy once the temperatures are below freezing later tonight. The bottom line is be aware the Thursday evening and Friday morning commute could be hazardous. Better safe than sorry.