A dense fog advisory was issued by the National Weather Service Wednesday at 8:06 a.m. and remains in effect until 11 a.m. for Benton County Lowlands and Linn County Lowlands, the agency said, adding that motorists should expect "Visibility one quarter mile or less in areas of dense fog."
The weather service warned that deteriorating air quality may cause issues for people with respiratory problems and relayed guidance from state air quality agencies urging no outdoor burning and limiting use of residential wood burning devices.
State air quality agencies advised residents to check with their local burn agency for current restrictions and to use the website search bar at the top left of the homepage to find any Air Quality Alert that may apply to their location, the agencies said.
Fog safety tips from the National Weather Service emphasize slowing down and allowing extra travel time, using low beam headlights and fog lights when available, and avoiding high beams which create glare and reduce visibility.
The agency also urged drivers to keep a safe following distance and to use lane markings to stay in their lane. For near zero visibility, motorists should activate hazard lights and pull into a safe area such as a business parking lot before stopping.
Impacts And Precautions For Residents And Road Users
Where no parking lot exists, the weather service advised drivers to pull as far off the road as possible, leave hazard lights on, set the emergency brake, and remove their foot from the brake so tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the chance other drivers will hit a stopped vehicle.
Officials noted people with respiratory illness should follow their physician's advice during periods of stagnant air, especially if an Air Quality Alert is in effect, and to limit actions that add smoke or particles to the air.
Pedestrians and cyclists were urged to increase their visibility to motorists by wearing bright or reflective clothing in poor visibility conditions, and all road users were reminded that dense fog can make driving hazardous and that delaying travel is advisable when possible.
