A weather alert was issued by the National Weather Service at 3:51 a.m. Friday for dense fog until 8 a.m. for the Westmoreland Ridges, Fayette Ridges and higher elevations of Indiana as well as Mercer , Venango, Forest, Lawrence, Butler, Clarion, Jefferson. , Beaver, Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington, Greene, Westmoreland, Fayette and Indiana Counties.

“Areas of fog, locally dense, can be expected this morning. Visibility will be reduced to a quarter mile or less in some locations. Use caution if traveling and be alert for rapid changes in visibility,” the weather service says.

Weather Service Tips for Navigating in Fog Conditions

If you must drive in fog, remember these safety precautions:

Moderate your speed:

• Slow down and allow extra travel time to reach your destination safely.

Visibility matters:

• Make sure your vehicle is visible to others by using low beam headlights, which also activate your taillights. If available, use your fog lights.

Avoid high beams:

• Avoid using high beams, as they create glare that affects your visibility on the road.

Keep a safe distance:

• Maintain a significant following distance to account for sudden stops or changes in traffic.

Stay in your lane:

• To ensure you stay in the correct lane, use the road’s lane markings as a guide.

Zero Visibility Protocol:

• In situations with near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and look for a safe place, such as a nearby business parking lot, to pull over and stop.

Limited parking options:

• If no parking area is available, park your vehicle as far from the side of the road as possible. Once stopped, turn off all lights except the hazard warning lights, engage the emergency brake and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of d other drivers collide with your stationary vehicle.

By adhering to these weather service recommendations, you can navigate in safer foggy conditions, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring your well-being.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.