It is almost hard to detect. Black ice is transparent and typically develops in low-light situations, such as in the evening or early morning. Due to the absence of sunlight, black ice that has formed in a shady area tends to persist. A light snowfall or blowing snow might conceal the existence of black ice.

Warm temps deceive individuals into assuming that there is no ice. Most people believe that when air temperatures are above freezing, especially in late winter and early spring, it is too warm for ice to develop. However, what matters is the temperature of the pavement. Frozen ground may make sidewalks, parking lots, and roads significantly colder than the surrounding air, causing ice to develop.

Not all types of ice are equal. All types of ice may be difficult to traverse, but black ice is particularly tricky. As temperatures increase near to or over the freezing point, friction on ice reduces. This can cause a layer of moisture to form on the surface of black ice. It is practically hard to walk safely across the ice under these conditions.

There may be no discernible origin of the ice. It seems intuitive that melting snow on a sunny day might form ice after the sun sets and temperatures drop. What if, however, there is no snow or evidence of melting? There are further reasons for black ice: Rooftop snow can melt due to heat loss through a building's roof, dripping into the sidewalks and parking lot below. Also commonly disregarded as potential causes of parking lot ice are condensation from car exhaust and melting snow from automobiles.