Minneapolis, MN – Drivers across Minnesota are urged to use extreme caution this Sunday morning as a flash freeze sets in after a night of falling temperatures. The National Weather Service says moisture left behind from Saturday’s snow could quickly refreeze, coating highways like I-94, I-35, and Highway 52 with a thin layer of invisible black ice.
According to forecasters, a flash freeze occurs when pavement temperatures drop rapidly below freezing, turning wet roads into ice within minutes. These conditions are especially dangerous because the roads may appear simply wet or damp.
Experts warn that stopping distances on ice can increase nearly tenfold — a vehicle moving 35 mph may need 600 feet or more to stop safely, compared to about 60–100 feet on dry roads. Motorists are encouraged to slow down, leave plenty of space, and avoid sudden braking.
“Even if it’s not snowing, icy patches can form fast when temperatures fall this sharply,” the NWS said in a Sunday morning update. “Plan for slick conditions, especially on bridges and overpasses.”
Drivers across the Twin Cities metro, Stearns County, and southern Minnesota should expect freezing conditions through late morning before gradual improvement as sunlight returns.
