NY weather: Weather alert for dense fog in Albany and Rensselaer counties Monday morning

A weather alert was issued by the National Weather Service on Monday at 7:45 a.m. for dense fog until 10 a.m. for Albany and Rensselaer counties.

“Areas of patchy dense fog this morning around the immediate Capital District, as seen on area web cameras, have resulted in reduced visibility. Use caution if traveling through late this morning and allow extra travel time to arrive at your destination. Remember, visibility can drop suddenly once you enter into a foggy area,” says the weather service.

Navigating fog: Safety tips by the weather service

If you must venture out in foggy conditions, keep these safety tips from the weather service in mind:

Reduce speed:

• Slow down and allocate extra travel time to reach your destination safely.

Visibility priority:

• Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which automatically activate your taillights. Utilize fog lights if your vehicle is equipped with 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.

Maintain safe gaps:

• Leave a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.

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 cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a safe spot, like a nearby business parking lot, to pull over and stop.

No 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 weather service recommendations, you can navigate foggy conditions with greater safety, mitigating…