An updated report was issued from the National Weather Service on Thursday at 5:30 a.m. for dense fog until 9:30 a.m. for Northern Clinton, Northern Centre, Southern Centre, Northern Lycoming, Southern Clinton and Southern Lycoming as well as Potter, Cameron, Clearfield, Blair, Huntingdon, Fulton, Franklin, Tioga, Sullivan, Union, Snyder, Montour, Northumberland and Columbia counties.
“Mainly clear skies and light winds has resulted in areas of fog early this morning. Some of the fog is on the dense side. Persons traveling this morning should allow extra travel time and slow down in areas of fog. Remember to use your low beams in areas of fog. The fog should burn off by 9 a.m.,” states the weather service.
Fog safety: Tips from the weather service for safe travels
If you must venture out in foggy conditions, keep these safety tips from the weather service in mind:
Moderate your speed:
-
Slow down and allow extra travel time to reach your destination safely.
Visibility matters:
-
Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights. If you have fog lights, use them.
Avoid high-beams:
-
Refrain from using high-beam lights, as they create glare, making it more difficult for you to see what’s ahead of you on the road.
Keep a safe distance:
-
Maintain a generous following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifting traffic patterns.
Stay in your lane:
-
To ensure you are staying in the correct lane, use the road’s lane markings as a guide.
Visibility near zero:
-
In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.
No parking options:
-
If no parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far to the roadside as possible. Once stationary, turn off all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
By adhering to these precautions from the weather service, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the likelihood of accidents and ensuring your personal safety.
Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
