HOLT, Fla., Feb. 15, 2021—The National Weather Service in Mobile is cautioning residents in the forecast area to be aware of the possibility of black ice forming on roadways this evening.

Arctic air will move into the region tonight with temperatures quickly dropping below freezing from west to east this evening with overnight temperatures plummetting into the teens and 20s.

Any residual water on roads, bridges and overpasses will quickly freeze tonight, creating areas of black ice and dangerous driving conditions, according to the NWS.

Along with black ice, a new wind chill forecast has dropped the low to 15 degrees here with areas to the northwest in Alabama and Mississippi in the lower single digits.

A wind chill advisory is in effect for this area from 8 p.m. until 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Although the coldest temperatures will be west of the Interstate 65 corridor, given the widespread rain from today, any residual water left on area roadways will quickly freeze tonight, according to the NWS.

The most likely areas to experience black ice would be near and west of I-65 where there will be less time for roads to completely dry prior to the arrival of sub-freezing temperatures. However, patchy black ice cannot be ruled out anywhere across inland southeast Mississippi, southwest and south central Alabama and the western Florida panhandle, according to the weather service.

Temperatures will remain below freezing through much of Tuesday morning, but sunshine will return to the area and help to dry out roads not shade-covered. Shade-covered roads may take longer to improve depending on the degree of black ice that forms.

Drivers are encouraged to use extreme caution when traveling tonight because black ice is difficult to see, according to the NWS. Be especially careful at the base of bridges and overpasses, along with any other roads that tend to have standing water.

The tornado watch for this area has been cancelled.