The National Weather Service issued a weather alert at 4:12 a.m. on Friday for dense fog until 7:15 a.m. The alert is for Polk, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Sumter, Hardee, Highlands, DeSoto, Charlotte and Lee counties.

Locations impacted by the alert include Lecanto, Lake Manatee State Park, New Port Richey East, Shady Hills, Fort Myers Villas, South Gate Ridge, St. Leo, Sumterville, Bushnell, Lake Sarasota, Weeki Wachee, Placid Lakes, Haines City, Southwest Florida Airport, Winston, Floral City, Bradenton Beach, East Lake-Orient Park, Southgate and Chassahowitzka Refuge.

Guidance from the National Weather Service for navigating foggy conditions

If you must drive in foggy conditions, keep the following safety tips in mind:

Moderate your speed:

Slow down and allocate extra time for your trip to reach your destination safely.

Visibility priority:

Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights. If available, employ your fog lights.

Avoid high-beams:

Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.

Keep a safe distance:

Keep a considerable following distance to account for sudden stops or shifts in traffic patterns.

Stay in your lane:

Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to staying in the correct lane.

Visibility near zero:

In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.

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 precautions from the National Weather Service, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the likelihood of accidents and ensuring your personal safety.

Source: The National Weather Service

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