The National Weather Service issued a weather alert at 3:49 a.m. EDT on Friday for dense fog until 9 a.m. EDT for Baraga, Marquette, Alger, Luce, Iron, Dickinson, Menominee, Delta and Schoolcraft counties.
"A fog bank has developed over the interior west/central and eastern U.P. this morning, creating reduced visibilities as low as 1/4 mile at spots. Therefore, drive with some extra caution when going to work, and be sure to have your low-beam headlights on," says the weather service.
Guidance from the weather service for navigating foggy conditions
If you must venture out in foggy conditions, keep these safety tips from the weather service in mind:
Moderate your 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 automatically activate your taillights. Utilize fog lights if your vehicle is equipped with them.
Avoid high-beams:
- Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.
Keep a safe distance:
- Maintain a generous following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifting 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 strategy:
- 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.
No parking options:
- If there is no parking lot or driveway to pull into, pull your vehicle off to the side of the road as far as possible. Once you come to a stop, turn off all lights except your hazard flashing lights, set the emergency brake, and take your foot off of the brake pedal to be sure the tail lights are not illuminated so that other drivers don't mistakenly run into you.
By adhering to these recommendations from the weather service, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring 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.