Black Ice Warnings & 40% Chance of Rain

IRONWOOD - Monday, January 07, 2008 - According to the National Weather Service in Marquette, "Temperatures have fallen below freezing as clouds have moved out this morning. Temperatures will continue to be below freezing through 930 am EST or 830 am CST. The roads are wet from snowmelt overnight and from Sunday. With temperatures below freezing... roads could become very slippery quickly as they are still wet. Black ice is a strong possibility especially on untreated roads and surfaces. If driving through 930 am EST or 830 am CST... use caution as roads could become very hazardous and slippery very quickly this morning especially roads that have been untreated."

Black ice, also known as "glare ice" or "clear ice," is ice that contains very few air bubbles. It is created as snow melts and then quickly freezes again, or as a result of a freezing rain. It is essentially transparent, so motorists often overlook the hazard. Black ice takes on the color of the pavement or whatever it is covering. The real danger of black ice is that unknowing motorists are often tricked into believing they are driving on dry pavement, while in reality, they are driving on a sheet of very slippery ice. Often drivers are traveling too fast for the icy conditions and accidents occur.

"The high temperature for January 6th reached 39 degrees at the Marquette National Weather Service, breaking the old record high temperature of 32 that was established on this date in 1987 and 2007. The low temperature was 32 degrees which broke the previous warmest low temperature for this date which was 28 degrees in 1987 and 2007."

The 5-day forecast calls for a 40% chance of rain today with high temperatures expected in the low 40's. The low temperature tonight is expected to be 30 degrees. Tuesday, a high of 37 degrees is to be expected with a low of 23 degrees. There's a 40% chance of rain or a rain/snow mix on Tuesday. There's a 30% chance of snow throughout the rest of the week with temperatures below freezing.

Jim Albert