Eastern Kentucky Weather Alert Warns of Overnight Black Ice Risk on Mountain Roads as Temperatures Hover Near Freezing
EASTERN KENTUCKY – Residents across the mountain region are being urged to use extreme caution tonight as patchy drizzle, fog, and near-freezing temperatures combine to create dangerous black ice on roads. According to meteorologists in Jackson, several communities are already experiencing conditions favorable for hidden slick spots, especially in higher terrain and shaded areas that cool quickly after sunset.
Forecasters note that temperatures across eastern Kentucky are “hovering right around the freezing mark,” meaning even a light glaze of moisture can freeze on contact with cold pavement. The risk is highest on untreated roads, bridges, and overpasses — areas that typically freeze first and remain icy longest through early morning hours.
Black Ice Possible in Multiple Mountain Communities Tonight
Light icing is possible in several eastern Kentucky cities, including Harlan, Hazard, Jackson, Pikeville, and Paintsville, where the combination of freezing drizzle and lingering moisture is capable of forming a thin, nearly invisible layer of ice. Forecasters explain that even when the air temperature reads slightly above freezing, road surfaces can remain much colder, especially in valleys and shaded mountain corridors.
This temperature mismatch is what creates black ice — a transparent glaze that blends into the pavement and catches drivers off guard. Officials emphasize that the drizzle developing late this evening may not appear heavy, yet even minimal moisture is enough to create hazardous travel conditions.
Travelers Urged to Use Extra Caution Overnight
Motorists planning to travel before sunrise should assume that any damp road surface may be icy, especially on rural routes and elevated structures. Drivers are urged to slow down, increase following distances, and avoid sudden braking or sharp acceleration when approaching curves or intersections.
Bridges and overpasses are a particular concern because they lose heat more quickly than asphalt on the ground. In higher elevations, where cold air settles faster, forecasters warn that slick spots may develop with little warning, especially in foggy pockets where drizzle accumulates.
Conditions Improve by Late Saturday Morning
The National Weather Service expects a gradual improvement by late Saturday morning, once temperatures rise above freezing and moisture begins to evaporate. However, the early-morning commute is still expected to be challenging, with lingering patches of ice possible in shaded mountain areas.
Travelers heading out before daylight are encouraged to allow additional time, reduce speed, and stay alert for changing road conditions, as black ice is often undetectable until the moment tires lose traction.
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