Icy spots possible on Mid-South roadways tonight

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
638 PM CST TUE JAN 11 2011

...ICY SPOTS POSSIBLE ON MID-SOUTH ROADWAYS TONIGHT...

THE COMBINATION OF MELTING SNOW THAT OCCURRED TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND FALLING TEMPERATURES WILL RESULT IN BLACK ICE DEVELOPING ON AREA ROADWAYS OVERNIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. BLACK ICE FORMS WHEN WATER REMAINING ON ROADWAYS FREEZES IN THE PRESENCE OF BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. THIS ICE IS HIGHLY TRANSPARENT AND VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AS COMPARED TO SNOW COVERED ROADS. BLACK ICE CAN LEAD TO DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS AS DRIVERS MOVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS MAY SUDDENLY ENCOUNTER THESE ICY SPOTS WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCED WARNING.

LOW TEMPERATURES TONIGHT WILL DROP INTO THE LOWER TO MIDDLE TEENS WHICH WILL ALLOW ANY STANDING WATER ON ROADS TO REFREEZE TO SOLID ICE. BRIDGES ARE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE FORMATION OF BLACK ICE... AS SNOW MELT CANNOT EASILY RUNOFF FROM BRIDGE SURFACES. THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPORTS OF ICY SPOTS ON ROADWAYS IN OXFORD IN LAFAYETTE COUNTY MISSISSIPPI AND BOONEVILLE IN PRENTISS COUNTY MISSISSIPPI. ICY SPOTS ON ROADWAYS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE ENTIRE MID SOUTH FOR THE REMAINDER OF TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING.

IF YOU MUST TRAVEL TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING... PLEASE BE PREPARED FOR POTENTIAL ICY SPOTS ON ROADWAYS... ESPECIALLY IN AREAS OF SNOW MELT AND BRIDGES... AND EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION.