A weather alert was issued by the National Weather Service on Wednesday at 7:11 a.m. for patchy fog until 10 a.m. The alert is for Williamson, Hays, Travis, Bastrop, Lee, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Caldwell, Fayette, Atascosa, Wilson, Karnes, Gonzales, De Witt and Lavaca counties.

“Patchy fog has developed over the Coastal Plains and I-35 Corridor this morning. A few spots have visibility down to 1/4 mile, but most places are one to three miles. There may be a brief drop in visibility at sunrise. Things should improve by mid-morning,” says 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 allocate 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.

Maintain safe gaps:

• Maintain a significant following distance to account for abrupt 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.

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