At 4:25 a.m. on Sunday, the National Weather Service issued an updated freezing fog advisory for the West Central Willamette Valley, East Central Willamette Valley, Benton County Lowlands, and Linn County Lowlands, which was in force until 9 a.m.
According to the meteorological service, there will be “Visibility one quarter mile or less in freezing fog.”
“Driving conditions could be hazardous due to low visibility,” the weather agency said. “State air quality organizations strongly advise against outdoor burning and to minimize the number of wood-burning equipment in homes. 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 agency. 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. Use your headlights, slow down, and give yourself plenty of space if you’re driving.
What does a freezing fog advisory mean?
An advisory for freezing fog is issued when surface temperatures are at or below the freezing point and fog is forming. Under such circumstances, the tiny liquid droplets in the fog may instantly freeze when they come into touch with other surfaces, such as cars and roads. Driving, boating, aircraft, and other forms of transportation are all at increased risk when there is freezing fog. Visibilities usually fall to a 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.
Visibility is important.
Use low-beam headlights, which also turn on your taillights, to make sure that people can see your car. Make advantage 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.
Stay away:
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.
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.
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