Ice, Ice Baby

Photo: Frank Schuengel

Quick message from Gef: No, the Mountain Road is not shut yet, and no, we do not know whether it will. But here’s what we do know: 

Drivers are being warned to take it steady tomorrow (Tuesday), as the Met Office has slapped a yellow warning for frost and ice on the island.

The advisory runs from 3am until 9pm on November 25 and is mainly aimed at anyone adventurous enough to head up the highest routes or down those suspiciously sheltered lanes that always seem to freeze first.

Our friendly forecaster Colin Gartshore explained: ‘The majority of road temperatures tonight are expected to remain a few degrees above zero Celsius.

‘However, there is a slight risk on very high roads above 1,000 feet, as well as in the most sheltered lowland areas, where temperatures could briefly dip to zero late at night and in the early hours of Tuesday. Icy patches are possible if this occurs.’

Translation: most of us will be fine, but the Mountain Road and a few sneaky spots might try to catch you out, again.

The advice is the usual winter drill: take it easy, don’t drive like you’re in the TT, watch out for untreated surfaces and maybe give yourself an extra couple of minutes in the morning in case you have to defrost the car with something a bit more sophisticated than your sleeve.

It follows last week’s frosty spell, which did see the A18 Mountain Road shut until Saturday. Fans of pies and coffee rejoiced when it did reopen, as Victory Cafe reopened!

Bundle up and drive safe.