Weather Alert: Dense Fog Advisory (Again)

BETHESDA, MD — Commuters are driving during another dense fog advisory, which runs until 10 a.m. Thursday in northwest, central and southeast Montgomery County.

Visibility on area road can be limited to a quarter of a mile, warns the National Weather Service, dropping to 100 feet or less at times. Drivers are urged to slow down and use their low-beam headlights.

Several suburban Virginia counties are also included in the advisory.

Cities in the weather alert area include Germantown, Damascus, Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Silver Spring.

Virginia cities in the advisory include Manassas, Woodbridge, Reston, Herndon, Centreville, Chantilly, McLean, and Fredericksburg.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services shared these safety tips for driving in fog:

• Drive with lights on low beam. High beams will only be reflected back off the fog and actually impair visibility even more.
• Reduce your speed -- and watch your speedometer. Fog creates a visual illusion of slow motion when you may actually be speeding.
• Listen for traffic you cannot see. Open your window a little, to hear better.
• Use wipers and defrosters as necessary for maximum visibility.
• Use the right edge of the road or painted road markings as a guide.
• Be patient. Do not pass lines of traffic.
• Do not stop on a freeway or heavily traveled road. If your car stalls or becomes disabled, turn your vehicle’s lights off, and take your foot off of the brake pedal. People tend to follow tail lights when driving in fog. Move away from the vehicle to avoid injury.