Black Ice Risk Below 32°F: How to Stay Out of the Guardrail

Why black ice shows up after sunset

If roads melted into slush today, tonight can get ugly fast. When temps drop below freezing (32°F), that wet sheen can refreeze into black ice—thin, nearly invisible, and ready to steal traction without warning. A Feb. 1 National Weather Service briefing warned that “areas of black ice may form where slush and snowmelt refreeze,” and told drivers to slow down and leave extra room ahead.

Black ice loves the spots you hit at speed. Bridges and overpasses cool from above and below, so they freeze before the road on the ground. Shaded stretches stay colder too, even when the rest of the lane looks merely damp. That’s why the “I was fine a second ago” slide usually shows up on an on-ramp, a short bridge, or a bend lined with trees.

Your job is to drive like traction is scarce. Cut speed early. Add more following distance than feels normal. Autoblog’s winter-driving guidance even suggests driving under the limit in bad conditions, with a common rule of thumb around five mph slower when things get slick. The point isn’t the number. It’s the margin.

Then smooth out every input. Ease onto the throttle. Brake sooner and brake gently. Turn the wheel like you’re trying not to spill a drink. Sudden steering, sudden braking, and sudden acceleration are how tiny slips turn into big ones.

Skip cruise control on slick roads. Even adaptive systems can add power when you need less. Keep full control with your foot and your hands.

If you hit black ice, don’t stab the brake and don’t jerk the wheel. Look where you want the car to go, ease off the gas, and make small steering corrections. If your car has ABS, keep steady pressure and let it pulse. If it doesn’t, brake lightly and keep the wheel aimed where you want to end up. The car will slow when it finds grip again. Give it the chance.

Before you even leave the driveway, do two quick checks. First: look at the temperature, not the sky. If you see 34°F at sunset and 24°F at midnight, assume refreeze. Second: think about your route. Ramps, bridges, and low-traffic back roads get sketchy first because they ice up and stay icy longer.

Finally, stack the odds in your favor. Tires with real tread and correct pressure buy you grip when grip matters most. Keep basic winter gear in the car too. Men’s Journal’s winter driving checklist calls out the unglamorous essentials—ice scraper, flashlight, warm layers, charger, and snacks—because getting stuck is part of the same story.

One tell: watch the traffic. If the road is “wet” but you don’t see spray off the tires ahead, it may not be water. If steering suddenly feels light, treat it as ice until proven otherwise. Keep your eyes far down the lane and make your moves early. Late, sharp corrections are where black ice wins.

My Verdict

If you’ve got daytime melt and a nighttime freeze, treat every bridge, ramp, and shaded patch like it’s iced over. Slow down before you get there, leave a huge gap, and keep your hands calm. If you can delay the drive until temps rise, do it. Black ice is the hazard you don’t see coming—right up until you do.