Kansas City, MO – Drivers across Missouri are being urged to use extra caution this Sunday morning as a flash freeze develops following Saturday’s snowfall. The National Weather Service warns that rapidly dropping temperatures overnight could refreeze leftover moisture, turning major highways such as I-70, I-44, and US-50 dangerously slick.
A flash freeze occurs when wet pavement turns to ice almost instantly as temperatures fall below freezing. The resulting black ice can appear harmless but drastically reduces traction and control — even for experienced drivers.
Experts say that on icy pavement, a car traveling 35 mph may need up to 600 feet to stop — roughly six times the normal distance on dry roads. Motorists are urged to slow down, leave extra space, and avoid cruise control during early travel hours.
“Even with no snow falling, roads can glaze over quickly when temperatures drop fast,” the NWS said in a Sunday morning update. “Bridges and ramps will freeze first.”
Drivers in Jackson, Boone, and St. Louis Counties should plan for icy patches through late morning before gradual improvement as sunlight returns.
