If you look out your window in Metro Atlanta tonight, the roads might look dry. Do not be fooled. That matte gray appearance on the asphalt isn’t necessarily dry pavement; it may be a sheet of black ice forming as the sun goes down. With temperatures dipping back into the 20s, the meltwater from today threatens to refreeze into invisible traps. We are seeing a specific pattern of danger zones, and while crews are working continuously, conditions can change faster than treatment can keep up. You might think you know your commute, but tonight, the road may have changed.
1. The Spaghetti Junction Ramps (I-285/I-85)
These towering flyovers are essentially bridges in the sky. Because they have no earth beneath them to provide insulation, they tend to freeze hours before the surface roads. Drivers hitting these ramps at highway speeds run a high risk of encountering ice and spinning out into the guardrails. The transition from the highway to the ramp is the primary danger zone.
2. Cobb Parkway at the Chattahoochee River
Bridges over water are notorious for black ice because of the humidity rising from the river. The section of Cobb Parkway crossing the Chattahoochee is a prime candidate for slick spots. Even if the rest of Cobb County is clear, this specific stretch often stays frozen longer due to the microclimate of the river valley.
3. Peachtree Road in Buckhead (Shaded Areas)
The tall buildings in Buckhead cast long shadows. Areas of Peachtree Road that didn’t get direct sunlight today may not have dried out completely. That moisture has the potential to turn into a skating rink. Exercise extreme caution near the curves around the cathedral where the sun gets blocked by the high-rises.
4. The I-20 Downtown Connector Merge
This is already a chaotic merge on a sunny day. With the potential for black ice, it can become a demolition derby. The complexity of lane changes here means drivers are making sudden lateral moves. If you hit a patch of ice while changing lanes, you have zero traction to correct. Stay in your lane and increase your following distance to triple the normal length.
5. GA-400 at the Toll Plaza Remains
Though the toll booths are gone, the road configuration there can still create pooling water in heavy rains or melt scenarios. As that standing water freezes, it creates the potential for wide patches of ice across multiple lanes. It is wide open and exposed to the wind, which accelerates the freezing process.
6. Highway 78 near Stone Mountain
The elevation changes near Stone Mountain create cooler pockets of air. This highway often sees ice when areas closer to the city do not. The steep grades mean that if you lose traction going up or down, gravity takes over immediately. Avoid sudden braking on these hills.
7. Surface Streets in Sandy Springs
Many of the winding, tree-lined roads in Sandy Springs (like Riverside Drive) are beautiful but potentially dangerous tonight. The tree canopy likely prevented evaporation today. These roads are narrow, winding, and prone to patches of ice that blend perfectly with the asphalt. Speed limits here are irrelevant tonight; crawl if you have to.
The Invisible Threat
Black ice is deceptive because it doesn’t look like danger. It looks like safety. It invites you to drive at normal speeds right up until the moment you lose control. If you don’t have to be out tonight, stay home. If you do, assume every dark patch could be ice.
Have you spotted any other icy spots in Atlanta tonight? Warn your neighbors in the comments.
What to Read Next…
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- The Snow-Launch Problem: 6 Winter Car Mistakes That Can Hurt Someone Behind You
The post 7 Major Metro Atlanta Intersections Still Under “Black Ice” Warnings Tonight appeared first on Budget and the Bees.
