With temperatures still at or below freezing, and light snow still falling periodically, the occasional slick spot could pop up, especially on elevated surfaces.
DALLAS — North Texas woke up to wet, potentially slick roads Friday morning. Temperatures were still hovering around freezing but were expected to climb later in the morning to above freezing.
While roads initially seemed to be clear and without too many problems early Friday morning, as the sun came up and more vehicles hit the road, problems popped up.
North Texas safety officials responded to 324 crashes and incidents Friday morning, according to police departments accross the metroplex.
Most notably, drivers struggled to drive over the High Five interchange at U.S. 75 and I-635 in Dallas, having to take it extremely slow up the highway ramps and slipping and sliding some as they did so.
Michael Rey, spokesman for the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA), said their crews were “pretty busy” overnight with convoy plow operations to clear highways, including the Dallas North Tollway, President George Bush Turnpike, and the Sam Rayburn Tollway.
Rey urged drivers to remain cautious on elevated surfaces with moisture still on roadways across North Texas.
Rey said he expects NTTA crews will continue treating roads overnight Friday into Saturday, as temperatures will dip below freezing again Friday night.
We’ll be tracking the latest road conditions in North Texas here.
Live Road Conditions
Here’s a live look at North Texas road conditions from Texas Department of Transportation cameras around North Texas:
How many crashes have occurred on North Texas roads today?
Major crashes were reported by safety officials across North Texas Friday morning. Here’s where the most crashes were reported across the metroplex, according to officials:
Dallas Police Department: Responded to 88 crashes
Dallas County Sherrif’s Office: Responded to 20 major crashes and 32 minor crashes
Fort Worth Police Department: Responded to 55 crashes
Denton Police Department: Responded to 37 crashes
Grand Prarie Police Department: Responded to 34 crashes
Irving Police Department: Responded to 20 crashes
Plano Police Department: Responded to 17 crashes
Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office: Responded to 16 crashes and blocked roads
Grapevine Police Department: Responded to 5 crashes
How does black ice form?
Black ice forms when moisture on the ground freezes into a thin layer of ice, often under specific weather conditions. Several factors contribute to the creation of black ice, and understanding these can help you predict and avoid this dangerous phenomenon.
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Freezing temperatures: Black ice typically forms when temperatures drop below freezing (32°F or 0°C). If there’s any moisture in the air or on the surface, such as rain, snowmelt or dew, it can freeze rapidly, creating a slick, clear layer of ice. This can happen even when it’s not snowing or raining, so drivers should remain cautious during cold, clear days.
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Late-night or early morning: Black ice is most common in the early morning or late evening when the temperature is typically at its coldest. During these hours, the sun has set, and the ground is exposed to the frigid air, allowing moisture to freeze quickly. In the morning, the sunlight can warm the surface enough to melt some of the ice, but shaded areas and roads may remain icy for hours.
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Bridges and overpasses: Bridges and overpasses are more susceptible to black ice formation due to their exposure on both sides to the colder air. Unlike regular roads insulated by the ground, bridges can freeze from above and below, making them especially slippery. Black ice on these surfaces can form faster and more unexpectedly.
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Melting snow: What to expect this weekend: Snow that melts during the day and creates pools of water on roads and sidewalks. When temperatures drop overnight, these puddles of water freeze into black ice. This scenario is especially common after snowstorms where the sun partially melts snow during the day, but the temperature drops again at night.