Philadelphia, PA – Drivers across Pennsylvania are being urged to use caution this Sunday morning as a flash freeze takes hold following Saturday’s light snow and rain. The National Weather Service warns that rapidly falling temperatures could instantly refreeze wet roads, creating black ice on major routes including I-76, I-80, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
A flash freeze happens when road surface temperatures drop sharply below freezing, turning damp pavement into a thin, invisible sheet of ice. These conditions often occur behind fast-moving cold fronts and can make travel treacherous within minutes.
Experts note that on icy roads, a car moving 35 mph may need up to 600 feet to stop safely — about six times the distance required on dry pavement. Drivers are advised to slow down, increase following distance, and avoid sudden braking or acceleration.
“Even if skies are clear, leftover moisture can freeze fast,” the NWS said in a Sunday advisory. “Bridges, overpasses, and shaded areas will ice up first.”
Motorists across Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Allegheny Counties should expect slick conditions through late morning before roads gradually improve with daylight.
