A weather alert was issued by the National Weather Service on Saturday at 9:50 p.m. for dense fog until Sunday at 5 a.m. The alert is for Caldwell Mountains, Greater Caldwell, Burke Mountains, Greater Burke, McDowell Mountains, Eastern McDowell, Rutherford Mountains, Greater Rutherford, Polk Mountains, Eastern Polk, Oconee Mountains, Pickens Mountains, Greenville Mountains, Greater Oconee, Greater Pickens, Central Greenville, Southern Greenville, Northern Spartanburg and Southern Spartanburg as well as Rabun, Habersham, Stephens, Franklin, Hart, Elbert, Alexander, Iredell, Davie, Catawba, Rowan, Cleveland, Lincoln, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Union, Cherokee, York, Anderson, Abbeville, Laurens, Chester and Greenwood counties.

“Patchy dense fog will be in place tonight across Northeast Georgia, Upstate South Carolina, and the foothills and Piedmont of North Carolina. Expect variable visibilities tonight with values ranging from 3 miles to one quarter of a mile or less. Visibility will likely decrease suddenly and over short distances. Motorists traveling in these areas should use extra caution. Visibilities should improve from west to east as a line of showers and thunderstorms moves into the area between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. Slow down, increase following distance, and turn on your low-beam headlights,” states the NWS.

Guidance from the NWS for navigating foggy conditions

If you need to drive through fog, remember these safety guidelines:

Reduce speed:

• Slow down and allow extra travel time to reach your destination safely.

Visibility priority:

• 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 headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.

Keep your distance:

• Maintain a significant following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifts in traffic patterns.

Stay in your lane:

• To ensure you are staying in the correct lane, use the road’s lane markings as a guide.

Zero visibility strategy:

• In situations of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a secure location, such as a nearby business’s parking lot, to pull over and come to a stop.

No parking options:

• If no designated parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Once stationary, deactivate 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 NWS, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the likelihood of accidents and ensuring your personal safety.

Source: The National Weather Service