NY weather: Prepare for dense fog in New York until 3 a.m. Sunday

A weather alert was issued by the National Weather Service on Saturday at 10:44 p.m. for dense fog until Sunday at 3 a.m. for Wayne, Cayuga, Oswego and Ontario counties.

“Areas of patchy dense fog are occurring over the northern Finger Lakes and areas southeast of Lake Ontario. Visibility within fog is reduced to a half mile or less at times. Roadways that may be impacted by fog, but not limited to include the NYS Thruway, and County Routes 31 and 104. Visibility can change quickly on roadways. If you are driving, slow down and be on alert for other motorists. Low visibility shortens the amount of time you have to react to situations. Fog will likely continue through the night,” according to the weather service.

Guidance from the weather service for navigating foggy conditions

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 priority:

• 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 lights, as they create glare, making it more difficult for you to see what’s ahead of you on the road.

Keep a safe distance:

• Keep a considerable following distance to account for sudden stops or shifts in traffic patterns.

Stay in your lane:

• Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to remaining 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 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…