Dense fog advisory affecting 5 Freeway through Grapevine until Thursday midday – visibility limited to 1/4 mile

5 Freeway through Grapevine is included in a dense fog advisory issued by the National Weather Service on Thursday at 2:21 a.m. The advisory is in effect until noon.

“Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog,” can be expected according to the NWS Hanford CA. “Highways include, but are not limited to Interstate 5, State Routes 99, 41, 43, 46, 58, 59, 140, 152, 165, 180 and 198.”

“Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous,” the NWS said. “If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.”

The full list of affected locations includes:

• 5 freeway through Grapevine
• Los Banos – Dos Palos
• Merced – Madera – Mendota
• Planada – Le Grand – Snelling
• West Side of Fresno/Kings Counties
• Caruthers – San Joaquin – Selma
• Fresno-Clovis
• Buttonwillow – Lost Hills – I5
• Delano-Wasco-Shafter
• Hanford – Corcoran – Lemoore
• Visalia – Porterville – Reedley
• Bakersfield
• Southeast San Joaquin Valley
• South End San Joaquin Valley
• Tehachapi
• Buena Vista County

Guidance from the NWS for navigating foggy conditions

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

If you must drive in foggy conditions, keep the following safety tips in mind:

Moderate your speed:

Slow down and allocate extra time for your trip to reach your destination safely.

Visibility matters:

Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights. If you have fog lights, use them.

Avoid high-beams:

Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.

Keep your 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 extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.

No parking options:

If there is no parking lot or driveway to pull into, pull your vehicle off to the side of the road as far as possible. Once you come to a stop, turn off all lights except your hazard flashing lights, set the emergency brake, and take your foot off of the brake pedal to be sure the tail lights are not illuminated so that other drivers don’t mistakenly run into you.

By adhering to these recommendations from the NWS, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring your well-being.

For more local weather alerts, visit our Weather Advisory page