Dense fog advisory in place for 5 Freeway through Grapevine until Thursday midday – visibility down to 1/4 mile

5 Freeway through Grapevine is included in a dense fog advisory issued by the National Weather Service on Wednesday at 5:46 p.m. The advisory is valid from 11 p.m. until Thursday Jan. 29, at noon.

The NWS Hanford CA states to expect, “Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog.”

“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 venture out in foggy conditions, keep these safety tips from the NWS in mind:

Moderate your speed:

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

Visibility priority:

Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights. If available, employ your fog lights.

Avoid high-beams:

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

Keep a safe distance:

Maintain a significant following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifts in traffic patterns.

Stay in your lane:

Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to staying in the correct lane.

Visibility near zero:

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.

Limited parking options:

If no designated parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.

By adhering to these precautions from the NWS, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the likelihood of accidents and ensuring your personal safety.

For more local weather alerts, visit our Weather Advisory page