Bad driving weather has once again descended on much of the state, this time in the form of fog and black ice.
An overnight drop in temperatures is what caused ice to form on roads.
Rain leftover from Tuesday’s storms froze on highways and secondary roads, leading to early-morning crashes. Police are responding to spinouts, and some schools have delayed classes.
Tractor trailers slid off the highway in Meriden and Middletown and two cars rolled over in Tolland. A wire fell across I-91 in Windsor, stopping traffic.
“It’s just a sheet of ice,” said FOX CT Meteorologist Joe Furey. “When it looks wet, it’s actually ice that’s there.”
Watch Angelica Spanos’ live report from the roads in Farmington at 6 a.m. below:
Fog also is hampering early-morning drivers; a dense fog advisory has been issued.
In Meriden, a tractor trailer slid off an embankment of I-91 south, forcing police to close the left lane between exits 20 and 19, according to an emailed alert from the state Department of Transportation. Another tractor trailer slid into the center median in Middletown.
Firefighters responded to two rollovers on I-84 west in Tolland, one near exit 69 and an earlier one between exits 68 and 67, according to Fire Chief John Littell. One person was injured in each crash, he said.
In each case, one lane of the highway was closed. The stretch of highway between 68 and 67 has since reopened, the state Department of Transportation said in an emailed alert.
With a big blue flash, a wire fell across I-91 about 8:15 a.m. Travel in both directions was affected. It wasn’t clear what caused the wire to fall.
In Essex overnight, a dog fell through the ice and was rescued by firefighters. The dog is fine, fire officials said.
Metro North sent out emails warning rail travelers to use caution on platforms and stairs and when getting on and off trains.
By 9 a.m. the fog and ice should fade and the weather will change for the better. Highs today will be near 50 under a mix of sun and clouds, Furey said.
Cooler air will return in smaller doses as the week continues. Thursday and Friday will see high temperatures near 40 before we drop to the 30s on the weekend.
A few approaching storms may bring a chance of snow, but it doesn’t look like the state will get any major accumulation, Furey said.