A weather alert was issued by the National Weather Service on Tuesday at 8:33 a.m. for dense fog until 10:45 a.m. The alert is for Greater Rutherford, Eastern Polk, Greater Oconee, Greater Pickens, Central Greenville, Southern Greenville, Northern Spartanburg and Southern Spartanburg as well as Stephens, Franklin, Hart, Elbert, Iredell, Davie, Catawba, Rowan, Cleveland, Lincoln, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Union, Cherokee, York, Anderson, Abbeville, Laurens, Chester and Greenwood counties.

“Patches of dense fog have formed across the area east of the mountains this morning ahead of a cold front. Some locations reported a visibility of one-quarter mile or less, especially the southern foothills of North Carolina and other areas outside the Charlotte Metro area. If you are driving across the region, you may encounter sharply reduced visibility. If so, slow down and use your headlights. The fog should thin out during the middle part of the morning,” according to the NWS.

Navigating fog: Safety tips by the NWS

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 available, employ your fog lights.

Avoid high-beams:

• Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.

Keep your distance:

• Leave a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.

Stay in your lane:

• Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to remaining in the correct lane.

Visibility near zero:

• In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a safe spot, like a nearby business parking lot, to pull over and stop.

Limited 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 recommendations from the NWS, you can navigate foggy conditions with greater safety, mitigating the risk of accidents and prioritizing your well-being.

Source: The National Weather Service