After Tuesday’s night sudden deluge of freezing rain, there are a lot of motorists in the area who won’t fault the weatherman for not sending a white Christmas. Warm, dry weather sounds like a wonderful holiday present.

Just as the 5 p.m. commute was starting, the rain came, turning quickly into black ice as it hit the pavement.

Those heading home to Coal Grove from Ironton were detoured down U.S. 52 to near South Point to turn around and head back to the village exit because an accident had shut down Marion Pike on the viaduct.

Even speeds of 10 miles or less did little to slow the cars from sliding off the roadways. Local law enforcement authorities worked through the night keeping traffic flowing. All the major bridges over the Ohio River were closed while crews salted the roadbeds.

Icy conditions also closed down the North Second Street overpass for a period, a dispatcher said.

The Sixth Street Bridge between Huntington, W.Va., and Chesapeake was shut down for 90 minutes, according to Chesapeake Police Chief Russell Bennett.

“There were wrecks all over everywhere. It froze so fast,” Bennett said. “They were running us over everywhere. It was 2 in the morning before everything finally got salted down and things got straightened.”

As of Wednesday morning, none of the accidents were reported as major or with significant injuries, only fender benders, dispatchers said.

The hazardous driving conditions were the result of artic air that had come into the area Sunday and Monday.

“That low level cold dry air was sitting in place and we didn’t have any winds blowing at the ground,” Eric Seymour, meteorologist with National Weather Service, said. “It was just sitting there. As we started to get warm air aloft, it helped generate the clouds and the light precipitation with that very cold air at the ground and you ended up getting a light coating of ice.”

The warmer temperatures that greeted everyone Thursday morning are expected to continue through the day.

“It is fairly mild for this time of year with the temperatures in the 40s,” Seymour said.

Sunshine is expected to last all day, which could be good news for many.

“All the kids who have gotten toys for use outdoors can take advantage of this,” Seymour said.