Newsflash: Black ice isn't actually black
It's an official weather term.
Here at The Weather Network, we cover weather — and now that it’s winter, that coverage is focused on snow, ice, and the cold.
So, when we came across this video of a car sliding down a driveway on black ice, we had to share it:
We posted it to our Facebook account, and the reaction was generally what we would expect. Some people shared their own experiences with black ice, while others commented on how scary that must have been for the people involved.
But there were a few other comments that grabbed our attention.
The issue for some people was our use of the term black ice, because the thin layer had formed on concrete-coloured pavement.
“Looks like a well-oiled driveway,” one commenter said.
“I see no black.”
Another Facebook user agreed.
“Where is the black ice? Black refers to the pavement colour,” they said.
There were other comments like this as well, but you get the point.
With that in mind, we feel it’s our duty to clear something up ...
Black ice isn’t actually black
“Black ice is a thin, dangerous glaze of ice that forms on wet ground, often after a sudden temperature drop,” explains Weather Network writer Dennis Mersereau
“We call it 'black ice' because the glaze is so thin that it looks like a wet spot on asphalt or concrete. Its deceiving appearance makes black ice exceptionally dangerous to drivers and pedestrians. Bridges are often the first surfaces to develop black ice because cold air surrounds the road from all sides.”
Black ice isn’t something we made up. It is the official weather term for this particular type of ice. It can show up on surfaces of any colour, but regardless of where it forms, it’s still called black ice.
IN SHORT: The surface it forms on doesn’t have to be black, and the ice itself is not black. The term doesn’t require quotation marks because it is officially recognised.
Whether it’s on asphalt, concrete, or your own driveway, if it’s invisible, slippery, and sends your car skating, you can call it black ice.
Even if the comments section disagrees.
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Header image: File photos made with elements from Canva Pro.