The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a warning to drivers in some areas of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia that they may lose control of their vehicles due to sub-freezing temperatures.
This week, the southern United States has had the highest amounts of snowfall ever recorded. On Wednesday, the National Weather Service shared satellite video footage showing snow covering the Gulf Coast from southeast Texas to the eastern Carolinas on X, which used to be called Twitter.
For the time being, the chilly weather is sticking around in parts of southeast Alabama, southwest and south-central Georgia, Big Bend, and the Panhandle of Florida. Tonight, the snow and sleet will melt and then freeze again, resulting in patches of black ice that will make the roads slippery.
On Thursday, the National Weather Service (NWS) released special weather statements, alerting people to the possibility of icy roadways in a number of areas from Thursday night until Friday morning.
Temperatures are forecast to drop well below freezing after dark, which will cause the snow and sleet melt to freeze again this evening.
The meteorological service cautioned that this will generate areas of slippery black ice, especially in regions that have not entirely totally dried or places that have stayed shaded during the day.
Alabama
The counties of Coffee, Dale, Henry, Geneva, and Houston will be affected by slippery road conditions.
Florida
The counties of Walton, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Gadsden, Leon, and Liberty will be affected by slick road conditions.
Georgia
The counties that will be affected by slippery road conditions are Quitman, Clay, Randolph, Terrell, Dougherty, Lee, Worth, Turner, Tift, Ben Hill, Irwin, Early, Miller, Baker, Mitchell, Colquitt, Cook, Berrien, Seminole, Decatur, Grady, Thomas, Brooks, Lowndes, Lanier, Jeff Davis, Bacon, Appling, Wayne, Atkinson, Pierce, Brantley, Glynn, Echols, Clinch, and Ware.
According to a statement made by the National Weather Service (NWS) on Thursday, “Black ice is difficult to see and distinguish from dry surfaces.” Black ice may be quite misleading.
If you are driving or walking on it, you may not realize that it is there, which might cause you to lose control of your vehicle or slip and fall.
The weather agency recommended that vehicles drive slowly when traveling.
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“If you plan to drive or walk, remain alert for black ice. Slow your driving speed and use care when walking on sidewalks, driveways or parking lots. Slips and falls constitute a leading cause of injuries during winter weather,” according to the NWS.
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Residents in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia can find the most up-to-date weather forecasts for their locations by checking local sources. The National Weather Service (NWS) provides frequent updates on their website.
