Prepare for dense fog in 6 Massachusetts counties until early Sunday morning

A report from the National Weather Service was issued on Sunday at 12:05 a.m. for dense fog until 5 a.m. for Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties.

“Patchy fog is developing across southern New England in areas south of I-90. Visibilities between 1-2 miles are reported, with locally dense fog of less than 1/4 mile. Potential remains for areas of fog to become widespread through early Sunday morning. If so, a Dense Fog Advisory will be considered. Fog may be a hazard to motorist. Dense fog makes it difficult to see what’s ahead, turn on your low-beam lights, drive slowly and with caution,” according to the weather service.

Fog safety: Tips from the weather service for safe travels

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

Moderate your speed:

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

Visibility matters:

• Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which automatically activate your taillights. Utilize fog lights if your vehicle is equipped with them.

Avoid high-beams:

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

Keep a safe distance:

• Maintain a significant following distance to account for abrupt 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 cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a safe spot, like a nearby business parking lot, to pull over and stop.

Limited 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 weather service recommendations, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, 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.