4 Michigan counties under dense fog advisory through Friday morning

The National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory at 11:18 a.m. EST Thursday, in effect until midnight EST Friday for Osceola, Clare, Mecosta and Isabella counties.

“Visibility of a quarter mile or less in dense fog,” comments the weather service. “Warm, moist air moving over a melting snowpack results in areas of dense fog. Fog is expected to persist throughout the afternoon and evening. Improvement is expected overnight due to the ‘increased winds.’

“Low visibility could make driving conditions dangerous,” the weather service said. “If you are driving, slow down, use your headlights and leave a large distance in front of you.”

Weather Service Tips for Navigating in Fog Conditions

If a dense fog advisory is issued for your area, it means that widespread, dense fog has developed and visibility often drops to only a quarter mile or less. These conditions can make driving difficult, so use extreme caution on the road and, if possible, consider delaying your trip.

If driving in fog becomes unavoidable, remember these safety tips:

Moderate your speed:

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

Visibility priority:

Make sure 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:

Avoid using high beams, as they create glare that affects your visibility on the road.

Keep a safe distance:

Keep a considerable following distance to account for sudden stops or changes in traffic.

Stay in your lane:

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

Zero visibility strategy:

If visibility is near zero due to dense fog, turn on your hazard lights and locate a safe place, such as a nearby company parking lot, to pull over and pull over.

Limited parking options:

If a designated parking area is not available, move your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Once stopped, turn off all lights except the hazard lights, engage the emergency brake and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not on, reducing the risk of d other drivers collide with your stationary vehicle.

By adhering to these weather service precautions, you can navigate safer foggy conditions, reducing the risk 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.