Foggy mornings return to the Modesto area. Here’s why fog develops and how to drive in it
Central Valley drivers should expect a few days of morning fog starting Tuesday.
The National Weather Service forecasts patchy fog through Wednesday in the Fresno area and into the weekend around Modesto and Sacramento.
Three factors combine to create fog: moisture in the ground from recent storms, cold temperatures and a lack of wind.
Fog has caused accidents ranging from single fender-benders to pileups involving dozens of vehicles. The California Highway Patrol has tips on staying safe:
- Drive with lights on low beam. Using only parking lights is illegal.
- Watch for CHP pace vehicles, which lead drivers through the fog.
- Avoid crossing traffic lanes.
- Do not stop on highways except in emergencies.
- Move away from stalled or disabled vehicles.
- Consider postponing your trip until the fog clears.
The weather service also offers safety guidelines:
- Allow extra time to reach your destination.
- Never use your high-beam lights. Using high beam lights causes glare, making it more difficult for you to see what’s ahead of you on the road.
- Leave plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.
- 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.
- 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.
This story was originally published January 23, 2023 at 11:05 AM.
John Holland
The Modesto Bee