Fog traps commuters in London, Midlands

Commuters in the South East, East of England, East Midlands, and parts of the West Midlands faced reduced visibility this morning. The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning that remained active until 10:00 a.m. The agency predicted visibility would drop below 100 meters in dense areas.

The fog has persisted since Thursday night, following a week of mild weather and clear skies for many in southern and central England. This follows the recent arrival of Storms Austen and Boelo, which disrupted conditions earlier in the week. The current weather pattern is typical for the period between October and March.

Met Office forecasters stated that the fog would begin to thin and lift later in the morning. However, they warned that some rural areas in eastern England might not see clear conditions until the afternoon. The forecaster noted that the most extensive disruption would occur during the morning rush hour.

Road and rail travel faced potential disruptions, and some flights were cancelled due to the conditions. The fog is expected to linger through the day in certain locations. Drivers were advised to adjust their speed to allow more time to stop. The AA recommended increasing the following distance from two seconds to three seconds in low visibility.

Motorists were told to use dipped headlights, wipers, and demisters. Fog lights should be used only when necessary and switched off when visibility improves. Drivers were also cautioned about other vehicles that might not have their appropriate lights on. At junctions with poor sightlines, the AA suggested opening windows to listen for approaching traffic.

Rain is forecast for northern and western parts of the British Isles tomorrow. Large parts of the UK are expected to remain dry and settled. However, the risk of night-time fog remains for parts of eastern and southern England. These conditions could return early next week.