The National Weather Service issued a freezing fog advisory for the Foothills of the Southern Blue Mountains of Oregon, North Central Oregon, and Central Oregon at 5:11 p.m. on Sunday. The advisory was in place until 11 a.m. on Monday.
According to the meteorological service, “Visibility less than half a mile in freezing fog with some locally dense freezing fog with less than one quarter of a mile visibility.”
“Driving conditions could be dangerous due to low visibility. According to the weather office, the freezing fog can also make roads treacherous, particularly on bridges and overpasses. “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.
Slow down:
Reduce your speed when driving, particularly if there is a suspicion of slippery conditions.
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 lights as they produce glare, which makes it harder to see what’s in front of you on the road.
Remain at a safe distance:
Keep a wide following distance in order to accommodate sudden stops or changing traffic patterns.
Remain in your lane:
To stay in the proper lane, follow the lane lines on the road.
Flyers should be advised that even a thin film of ice can accumulate on aircraft surfaces, presenting serious threats to flight safety. Before you take off, make sure the aircraft is well maintained or has efficient de-icing equipment.
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.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
