Northern Oregon’s Blue Mountains under a dense fog advisory until midday Tuesday

At 9:39 a.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory in effect until noon for the Blue Mountains of northern Oregon.

“Visibility of a quarter mile or less in dense fog,” the weather service adds. “Near zero visibility was observed along the slopes of the Northern Blues and along Interstate 84 near Cabbage Hill and Deadman Pass where low clouds intersect the terrain.”

“Low visibility could make driving conditions dangerous,” the weather service said. “If you are driving, slow down, use your headlights and leave a large distance ahead.”

Sailing in fog: safety tips from the weather service

If a dense fog advisory is issued for your area, it means that widespread, dense fog has developed and visibility often drops to only a quarter mile or less. These conditions can make driving difficult, so use extreme caution on the road and, if possible, consider delaying your trip.

If driving in fog becomes unavoidable, remember these safety precautions:

Reduce 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 generous following distance to account for sudden stops or changes in traffic.

Stay in your lane:

Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to stay on track.

Zero visibility strategy:

If visibility is near zero due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and find a safe place, such as a nearby company parking lot, to pull over and stop.

Limited parking options:

If a designated parking area is not available, move your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Once stopped, turn off all lights except the hazard lights, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain off, minimizing the risk of others Drivers collide with your stationary vehicle.

By adhering to these recommendations from the weather service, you will be able to 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.