Dense Fog Threatens Monday Commute: Yellow Warnings Until 11:00
The Met Office has issued yellow fog warnings for England, eastern Wales and Northern Ireland on Monday morning. Visibility could drop below 50m, with delays likely on roads, rail, ferries and flights after two multi-vehicle crashes on Saturday night.
Dense fog threatens Monday morning travel across much of the UK, after the Met Office issued a yellow warning for England and eastern Wales that runs until 11:00 on November 9.
A separate yellow fog warning covers Northern Ireland until 10:00.
Visibility could fall below 50m in places, making driving difficult. Bus, train, ferry and flight services could face delays or cancellations.
The larger warning stretches from Canterbury to Cardiff, Hull to St Asaph and Southampton to York. It includes London, Birmingham and parts of Greater Manchester.
The fog should lift gradually through Monday morning, although some patches could linger into the afternoon. Temperatures have fallen into low single figures, and ground frost is likely in many areas.
Airport and road advice
Heathrow has told anyone driving to the airport to allow extra time because "overnight fog has affected visibility on roads". Passengers should check with their airline before leaving home and drive with care, the airport said on X.
Flights can be delayed in fog because aircraft need greater spacing when landing.
The Met Office advises drivers to check road conditions before setting off and to use fog lights when visibility is seriously reduced. The RAC motoring organisation recommends leaving extra stopping distance behind the vehicle ahead.
AA president Edmund King said drivers must be ready to adapt their speed. "One of the biggest mistakes is simply following the rear lights of the car in front," he said. It "can give you a false sense of security and means you may be travelling too close to react safely if that vehicle suddenly stops".
Crashes on Saturday night
Thick fog already covered parts of England and Wales on Saturday night. A 30-car pile-up on the M20 in Kent left two people seriously injured, and a 19-car collision happened on the A303 in Hampshire.
The fog also affected an FA Cup match between Altrincham and Notts County.
Why the fog formed
A large area of high pressure over the UK created ideal conditions. Overnight temperatures fell to around 3 to 5C across England and Wales, so moisture at ground level condensed into water droplets.
Light winds then let the fog thicken through the night, cutting visibility to less than 100 meters on Monday morning. Patchy fog could also form outside the warning area in northern parts of the UK wherever skies stay clear long enough.
Mist forms in the same way but is less dense, with visibility generally above 1,000 metres. Travelers using public transport or flying should check for updates from their operator.
