For Benton County Lowlands, Linn County Lowlands, and Lane County Lowlands, the National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory at 10:46 a.m. on Friday that would last until 1 p.m.
“Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog,” the weather agency states. “This evening, fog will re-form and spread throughout the southern Willamette Valley. In general, overnight temperatures will remain at or slightly above freezing. Still, some places will get below freezing again. Therefore, especially on less-traveled rural roads and bridges, drivers should be ready for potentially slippery or slick conditions.
“Those who have respiratory disorders may experience complications as a result of poor air quality. Driving conditions could be dangerous due to low visibility. Fog droplets may freeze when they come into touch with surfaces due to temperatures at or slightly below freezing, which might result in slick places on roads early Friday morning, according to the weather service. “If you’re driving, reduce your speed and give yourself plenty of space. To improve their chances of being noticed by others in low visibility situations, cyclists and pedestrians can dress in reflective or bright clothes. State air quality agencies may advise—or even require—that household wood burning devices be kept to a minimum and that no outdoor burning take place. Long stretches of stagnant air can trap pollutants near the ground where people live and breathe, according to state air quality regulators. For information on any current limitations in your area, contact your local burn and air quality department. When there is a high degree of air pollution during times of stagnant air, people with respiratory illnesses should heed their doctor’s advise, particularly if your location is under an Air Quality Alert. As an alternative, you could enter your location in the search bar located on the homepage’s upper-left corner. If there is an Air Quality Alert for your area, it will be displayed at the top; if so, you can click on it to view further information.
Guidance from the weather service for navigating foggy conditions
Visibility can drop to a quarter-mile or less when a dense fog advisory is issued for your area, indicating that widespread dense fog has formed. Travel is difficult in these conditions, so be extra careful when driving or, if at all possible, postpone your journey.
The following weather service safety advice should be kept in mind if you must go outside in foggy conditions:
Slow down:
To get to your location safely, slow down and give yourself more time to travel.
Priority for visibility:
With low-beam headlights, which turn on your taillights automatically, you can be sure that people can see your car. If your car is fitted with fog lights, use them.
Steer clear of high beams:
Avoid using high-beam headlights since they produce glare that reduces your driving visibility.
Keep your gaps safe:
To allow for unexpected stops or changes in traffic patterns, maintain a significant following distance.
Remain in your lane:
To stay in the proper lane, follow the lane lines on the road.
Protocol for zero visibility:
When there is almost no visibility because of heavy fog, turn on your hazard lights and find a safe place to stop, like a nearby company parking lot.
Restricted parking possibilities
Pull your car as far to the side of the road as you can if there isn’t a driveway or parking lot to pull into. Once you’ve stopped, make sure the tail lights are off so other cars won’t accidentally collide with you by turning off all lights except your hazard flashing lights, applying the emergency brake, and removing your foot from the brake pedal.
Following these weather service guidelines will help you drive more safely in foggy circumstances, reducing the chance of accidents and putting your health first.
United Robots offers a service called Advance Local Weather Alerts that gathers the most recent information from the National Weather Service using machine learning.
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