A Dense Fog Advisory was issued by the National Weather Service at 4:03 a.m. Thursday, in effect until 11 a.m. for the Central Oregon Coast Range Lowlands, Benton County Lowlands, the Linn County Lowlands and the Lane County Lowlands.

The weather service adds: “Visibility less than a quarter mile in dense fog.”

“Frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if not covered. Hazardous driving conditions due to low visibility,” the weather service comments. “If you are driving, slow down, use your headlights and leave a large distance in front of you.”

Weather Service Tips for Navigating in Fog Conditions

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 of a 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 priority:

Make sure your vehicle is visible to others by using low beam headlights, which automatically activate your taillights. Use fog lights if your vehicle is equipped with them.

Avoid high beams:

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

Keep a safe distance:

Keep a considerable 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 Protocol:

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 there is no parking lot or driveway to park, park your vehicle as far to the side of the road as possible. Once you are stopped, turn off all lights except the hazard lights, apply the emergency brake, and remove your foot from the brake pedal to make sure the tail lights are not on so that the others drivers do not collide by mistake. You.

By adhering to these weather service precautions, you can navigate in safer foggy conditions, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring your personal safety.

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.