Posted on 1/30/2026
Overnight ice in the Rockies has a way of making a normal drive feel like a completely different sport. Roads that look fine at sunset can turn slick by sunrise, especially on bridges, shaded corners, and higher elevations where the temperature drops fast. The tricky part is that it doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it just looks like dark pavement, and you only find out it’s ice when the steering feels light, or the car doesn’t slow down the way you expected. This is one of those situations where a few smart habits do more than a fancy vehicle does. You can have all-wheel drive and still slide. You can have new tires and still be surprised. The goal is to stack the odds in your favor. Why Ice Forms Overnight Even When It Didn’t Snow Ice doesn’t always need fresh snow. A clear night with moisture in the air is enough. Melted snow can refreeze. A light drizzle can freeze on contact. Even water from earlier in the day can linger in ... read more