A report from the National Weather Service was issued on Monday at 4:11 a.m. for dense fog until 10:15 a.m. for Berkshire County.
“Areas of fog, some locally dense, will continue to develop through 7 a.m. within river valleys of the southern Adirondacks, as well as across portions of the Mohawk, Hudson, Housatonic, and Connecticut River Valleys. Some visibilities may drop to or under one quarter of a mile at times. If traveling, please reduce speed and leave plenty of extra space between vehicles. Also, avoid using high beam headlights when encountering fog. The fog is expected to gradually dissipate between 8 and 10 a.m. this morning,” according to the weather service.
Navigating fog: Safety tips by the weather service
If you must venture out in foggy conditions, keep these safety tips from the weather service in mind:
Reduce speed:
- Slow down and allocate extra travel time to reach your destination safely.
Visibility matters:
- 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:
- 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 protocol:
- In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, initiate your hazard lights and locate a secure spot, such as a nearby business parking area, to pull over and come to a halt.
Limited 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 weather service recommendations, you can navigate foggy conditions with greater safety, mitigating the risk of accidents and prioritizing your well-being.
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.
