A weather alert was issued by the National Weather Service on Monday at 5:08 a.m. for fog until 9 a.m. The alert is for Inland Kleberg, Inland Nueces, Inland San Patricio, Coastal Aransas, Inland Refugio, Inland Calhoun, Coastal Kleberg, Coastal Nueces, Coastal San Patricio, Aransas Islands, Coastal Refugio, Coastal Calhoun, Kleberg Islands, Nueces Islands and Calhoun Islands as well as McMullen, Live Oak, Bee, Goliad, Victoria, Duval and Jim Wells counties.
“Areas of fog have developed across portions of South Texas this morning. Inland locations are generally seeing visibilities at or below 2 miles with a few locations seeing visibilities down to a 1/2 mile or less at times. Closer to the coast, visibilities will be around the 2 to 3 mile range, though some patchy fog with visibilities less than a mile is still possible. Use caution if traveling as visibility may change rapidly in a short amount of time. Use low beam headlights and leave extra distance between your vehicle and others on the road,” states the NWS.
Fog safety: Tips from the NWS for safe travels
If you need to drive through fog, remember these safety guidelines:
Reduce speed:
• Slow down and allocate extra time for your trip 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 lights, as they create glare, making it more difficult for you to see what’s ahead of you on the road.
Maintain safe gaps:
• Keep a considerable following distance to account for sudden stops or shifts in traffic patterns.
Stay in your lane:
• Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to staying in the correct lane.
Zero visibility strategy:
• 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 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 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
