RISK OF BLACK ICE TONIGHT ON WET ROADS ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF IRELAND
Overnight temperatures will drop below freezing in some parts of Ulster with the risk of black ice forming on any wet roads and footpaths. motorists are urge to travel with caution on roads overnight.
Temperatures by midnight across Ulster will dip to as low as -1C with highs of only 2C to 3C. Road temperatures across some parts of Ulster are already near freezing this evening with lows of 0C already recorded. Air temperatures are also as low as 1C and will drop further over the coming hours.
Over this evening and tonight a band of rain will extend northwards across Ireland with that spell of rain now making its way into the middle half of Ireland and not reaching the northern half of Ireland until near midnight or after when temperatures will also rise with any frost or ice clearing.
Heavy falls of rainfall are currently effecting the southern half of Ireland this evening with the risk of spot flooding, Heavy rainfall will continue over tonight into Wednesday morning as the rain extends to northern parts overnight.
Check out where the rain is right now by viewing the rainfall radar below
Below you can learn more about black Ice.
Continues below
Among the many threats facing drivers during winter is the most dangerous of them all: Slippery, hard-to-spot and potentially deadly black ice.
The biggest danger with black ice is that you are at the mercy of your vehicle and the ice until your car passes over it.
Black ice forms most often when it's raining and air is at or below 0Cat the surface.
The low ground temperature causes the precipitation to freeze upon impact, thus creating ice.
Sleet and the refreezing of runoff from melting snow can also generate black ice.
Black ice gets its name from its ability to blend in with its surroundings.
It's called black ice because it tends to look like the rest of the pavement on the road, but it's actually clear.
The thin nature and complexion of black ice makes it extremely difficult to spot, but using a car thermometer as an initial gauge may be helpful in determining the road conditions.
A car thermometer, like any digital thermometer, tries to find the air's ambient temperature. So, if a vehicle's thermometer is close to freezing, the driver should take extra precaution behind the wheel.
While the sensors are usually very accurate, their placement on a vehicle can make them less reliable.
Located outside the car behind the front bumper, these sensors sometimes pick up heat from the car's engine, resulting in a higher temperature reading.
This false higher temperature reading can occur if moving along in city traffic, or if a car was idling or recently used and parked.
In addition, these thermometers can also read lower if rainwater hits the sensors and evaporates while the car is at a higher speed.
Although car thermometers give relatively accurate readings, they can be incorrect for various reasons, so they should not be used as the absolute authority.
Due to the restrictions of a car's thermometer, the best way to know if roads are icy before heading out the door is to be aware of when, where and how black ice forms.
The prime time for the development of this ice is between sunset and sunrise, when temperatures are typically the lowest.
During the day, the best thing to do before getting in a vehicle is to take a look at the pavement.
If the pavement is dry but you are seeing spots of pavement that look dark and glossy, that is probably going to be black ice,.
Before getting on the roads at night, drivers should be informed of the area's weather conditions, as black ice is hardest to see in the dark.
The most common locations for black ice are shaded or tree-covered parts of driveways and roadways due to the lack of sunlight. Because of their ability to freeze quickly, bridges and overpasses are also prime locations.
While driving on black ice is similar in some regards to driving on snow, the biggest difference between the two is the amount of traction the vehicle retains.
With snow, there is still some traction; whereas on ice, there is no traction, and that's where it becomes very dangerous.
Due to a vehicle's lack of traction on ice, the basic rule for driving on black ice is to stay calm and let the vehicle pass over it.
Salting and sanding can neutralize black ice but even when a road has been treated never risk thinking the road is fully clear of ice.
However, salt is less effective when temperatures are about -10C or lower.
YELLOW WEATHER WARNING IS IN PLACE FOR RAINFALL TUESDAY 4TH DECEMBER 2018 AND WEDNESDAY 5TH DECEMBER 2018
KENNETH MC DONAGH FROM THE DONEGAL WEATHER CHANNEL
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