Tallahassee is expected to get snow, sleet, and/or freezing rain tonight and tomorrow. This doesnt happen often here. I grew up in central Maryland, where all three are common. Snow is not much of a problem in small amounts. Several inches of snow can cause you to get stuck, but a light dusting would have little effect. Snow generally happens in colder conditions than sleet or freezing rain, so it is especially uncommon in hot climates. However, if snow does fall a location where it does not usually fall, there may be no snow plows available to clear it away. Ice is a much bigger problem. It is best to avoid driving on icy roads, especially at night, when it is harder to see. Freezing rain is more slippery than sleet because it spreads out before freezing. Ice is not as easy to see as snow because it is clear. However, ice reflects a lot more light than it absorbs, whereas liquid water does the opposite, so ice is a lot shinier than liquid water. On an icy road, friction can be as little as one-tenth that of a dry road. Pretty much all car maneuvers depend on sliding friction. If you accelerate, decelerate, or turn quickly on ice, you will lose control of your car. I would recommend driving much more slowly than you would even in heavy rain, and leaving a lot of space for any maneuvers you need to make. It is more dangerous at night, when ice on the road may be hard to see. If you see ice in the forecast, drive as if there is ice on the road, because you may not have time to slow down when you see it, especially if you are not used to looking for it. If you see an unusual sheen on the road, it is likely to be ice. However, dirty ice may be harder to spot. Do not slam the brakes if you see ice. Also avoid using high beams because icy roads are more reflective. Antilock brakes help, but you should still follow the advice above.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 16:22:24 +0000
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