Weather alert for fog in 6 Massachusetts counties until early Monday morning

A report from the National Weather Service was issued on Sunday at 4:27 p.m. for fog until Monday at 5 a.m. for Southern Worcester as well as Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties.

“The very humid conditions continue overnight, and will lead to more areas of fog. Patchy dense fog is expected, reducing visibility to one quarter mile or less in spots. Travelers should be prepared for rapid drops in visibility. Slow down and allow extra time to reach your destination safely,” according to the weather service.

Guidance from the weather service for navigating foggy conditions

If you must venture out in foggy conditions, keep these safety tips from the weather service 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 lights, as they create glare, making it more difficult for you to see what’s ahead of you on the road.

Keep a safe distance:

• Maintain a generous following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifting traffic patterns.

Stay in your lane:

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

Zero visibility protocol:

• In situations of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a secure location, such as a nearby business’s parking lot, to pull over and come to a stop.

Limited parking options:

• If no parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far to the roadside as possible. Once stationary, turn off all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.

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.