At 4:09 a.m. on Sunday, the National Weather Service issued a freezing fog advisory for the Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon, which was in effect until 10 a.m.
As to the meteorological service, expect “Visibility one-quarter mile or less in freezing fog.”
The weather agency warns, “Driving conditions could be hazardous due to low visibility.” “If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.”
Understanding freezing fog advisories
When fog occurs and surface temperatures are at or below freezing, a freezing fog advisory is issued. Because of this special atmospheric state, the tiny liquid droplets in the fog instantly freeze when they come into touch with anything, including cars and roads. The presence of freezing fog greatly increases the dangers of driving, boating, and flying, among other forms of transportation. Navigating in these chilly circumstances is made more difficult by this weather phenomenon, which typically reduces visibilities to one mile or less.
A freezing fog: what is it?
A close relative of ice, freezing fog forms similarly to ordinary fog. When the skies are clear, heat travels into space, causing the Earth’s surface to cool. This is how fog and freezing fog begin. The air’s ability to hold onto moisture diminishes as this cooling process goes on, which causes water vapor to condense into tiny liquid droplets—the fundamental building blocks of fog. “Supercooling” is the term for the phenomena whereby the water droplets in this fog stay liquid when it occurs at temperatures below freezing. Essentially, supercooling is the process by which a liquid stays liquid because there is no freezing surface present, even when it is below its freezing point.
These supercooled droplets experience a stunning metamorphosis upon coming into contact with surfaces, crystallizing into fragile ice formations called rime. Trees, plants, and other environmental features, as well as vertical surfaces exposed to prevailing winds, frequently exhibit this change. In actuality, rime can develop on a number of surfaces, such as sidewalks, highways, railings, stairs, and even automobiles.
Black ice: what is it?
Clear ice, sometimes referred to as black ice, is a thin, almost undetectable layer of glaze ice that accumulates on a variety of surfaces, particularly roads. Despite its name, the ice is not black; rather, it has extraordinary transparency, which allows the black road pavement underneath to be seen.
Freezing fog is often blamed for the production of black ice, which can quickly cover roads with this dangerous threat. Due to its near-invisibility, black ice is particularly dangerous since it is difficult for drivers to notice.
How can I keep myself safe?
Avoiding travel if at all feasible may be the safest course of action when freezing fog covers your surroundings. If going out becomes inevitable, go with extreme caution and follow these crucial safety precautions:
High alertness:
Keep an eye out because the infamous black ice, which is still difficult to detect, can form from freezing fog.
Go at a moderate pace:
To account for possibly ice conditions, slow down.
Priority for visibility:
Use low-beam headlights, which also turn on your taillights, to make sure that people can see your car. Make use of your fog lights if you have them.
Steer clear of high beams:
Avoid using high-beam headlights since they produce glare that reduces your driving visibility.
Stay away:
Keep a wide following distance in order to accommodate sudden stops or changing traffic patterns.
Remain in your lane:
To stay in the right lane, follow the lane markers on the road.
Remember that even a tiny film of ice can build on aircraft surfaces, posing serious threats to flight safety for those who are flying to the skies. Before you take off, make sure the aircraft has been adequately treated or has efficient de-icing systems installed.
Knowledge and alertness are your unwavering partners in the world of freezing fog, enabling you to handle these weather-related challenges with your safety as your top priority.
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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