At 6:13 a.m. on Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a report predicting dense fog through 8:30 a.m. in Warren, McKean, Potter, Elk, Cameron, Clearfield, Cambria, Blair, Huntingdon, Somerset, Bedford, and Fulton counties, as well as Northern Clinton, Northern Center, Southern Clinton, and Southern Clinton.
Early this morning, visibility will be reduced to a quarter mile or less in certain areas due to locally dense fog. When traveling, be ready for sudden changes in visibility, particularly on ridgetops or in valleys of rivers and streams. Between daybreak and nine in the morning, visibility will gradually increase to unhindered as the fog dissipates, according to the weather service.
Fog safety: Tips from the weather service for safe travels
The following safety advice should be kept in mind if you must drive in foggy conditions:
Slow down:
-
Slow down and allocate extra time for your trip to reach your destination safely.
Priority for visibility:
-
Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which automatically activate your taillights. Utilize fog lights if your vehicle is equipped with them.
Steer clear of high beams:
-
Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.
Stay away:
-
Maintain a generous following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifting traffic patterns.
Remain in your lane:
-
To ensure you are staying in the correct lane, use the road’s lane markings as a guide.
Strategy for zero visibility:
-
In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, initiate your hazard lights and locate a secure spot, such as a nearby business parking area, to pull over and come to a halt.
Absence of parking choices
-
If there is no parking lot or driveway to pull into, pull your vehicle off to the side of the road as far as possible. Once you come to a stop, turn off all lights except your hazard flashing lights, set the emergency brake, and take your foot off of the brake pedal to be sure the tail lights are not illuminated so that other drivers don’t mistakenly run into you.
Following these weather service guidelines will help you drive more safely in foggy circumstances, reducing the chance of accidents and putting your health first.
United Robots offers a service called Advance Local Weather Alerts that gathers the most recent information from the National Weather Service using machine learning.
