Louisiana Faces Serious Driving Hazards With Freezing Temps

Whether you're driving in Shreveport, Bossier or any other part of Louisiana, you've seen the signs - "Bridge freezes before road surface". And, there's probably a pretty good chance that, much like me, you've completely ignored those signs. Let's be honest here: how many times do we really see legit freezing temps in Louisiana? Maybe a day or three a year?

Well, unlike a normal year, we're about to get sustained cold weather and experience a legitimate winter storm. Which means those signs on the overpasses and bridges are a lot more important than they have been in the past.

Arctic Blast Brings Freezing Temps to Shreveport

In case you haven't been outside lately or looked at the forecast for the next week or so, it's going to be darn cold! Temps are expected to drop into the teens and 20s over the next couple of days with a high chance of precipitation - namely sleet, snow and freezing rain. In fact, Richard Lewelling from the Weather Channel is saying the winter storm could be "catastrophic" for our area.

Without proper preparations, it could damage your home. Without proper dress, it could lead to a ton of health issues. It can impact your vehicle - killing your battery, freezing up fluids, etc.. In short, these types of weather conditions can cause a lot of problems - especially if you don't take proper precautions.

I've seen a LOT of folks talking on Facebook about getting out and about this weekend...which is an EXTREMELY dangerous idea.

Beware of Hazardous Driving Conditions in Shreveport-Bossier

Because as noted in the first sentence of this story, bridges & overpasses are the first to freeze and could be dangerous even when regular roads aren't. Why is that? The short answer: science. To put it simply - unlike surface roads, a bridge is losing heat from every side. So while surface roads maybe warm enough to prevent ice from forming, bridges are not because they have no way to trap heat in the ground. You add in moisture from rain, and you have a recipe for disaster if you're not careful.

READ MORE: Biggest Snowfalls in Louisiana History

Simply put, because of the reasons mentioned above, bridges/overpasses basically are the same temperature as the air - which means if it's 15 degrees out, the bridge you're driving over is pretty much the same temp. So any moisture in the area could potentially freeze. And precipitation could freeze. Heck, even condensation from your vehicle could freeze on the roadway to create a dangerous situation. Which is why pretty much every bridge/overpass is equipped with a  "Bridge freezes before road surface" sign.

But we're going to get precipitation on top of the freezing temps. So, it's going to be a dangerous weekend on the roadways.

Winter Tips For Driving in Shreveport-Bossier

There's an old saying up north and it's absolutely true - NOBODY CAN DRIVE ON ICE. It's a fact. Many people have tried, most have ended up in a ditch or worse. But, with that said, there are some things you can do on the roadways to make sure you're the safest you can be.

If you don't pay attention to anything else I wrote today, please take this advice to heart. Especially when going over any bridge or overpass while temps are well below 32 degrees:

• Slow Down. It's called black ice for a reason - if there's any on a bridge or overpass, 99% chance it'll just blend in with the road and you won't see it. Slowing down and being cautious can help you avoid most issues.
• No sudden movements. If you hit a patch of ice, the worst thing you can do is make a sudden movement - jerking the steering wheel, slamming on the brakes, anything like that. Keep a couple car lengths between you and the car ahead of you, so you can gradually make a move if it's needed.
• If you feeling like you're floating, that means you've hit ice. Don't slam on the breaks or make any sudden moves. Hold steady and take your foot off the accelerator until you've regained control. If you do start sliding, SLOWLY steer away from the slide. Again, no sudden movements.

A little extra caution can go a long way. Do I think it's going to be awful and undriveable? There's a good chance this time around. BUT, if you absolutely have to get out in this mess, make sure you take all the proper precautions and give yourself PLENTY of time and space. It could save your life.