Much Of Central Texas Under Dense Fog Advisory

AUSTIN, TX — The National Weather Service has issued a dense fog advisory for much of Central Texas during peak drive time periods Monday morning.

The advisory is effective until 9 a.m. Monday, Dec. 18, weather officials said. The Travis and Williamson counties are in the area encompassing the advisory along with Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Lee, Medina and other counties in the region.

Those in South Texas also will see dense fog, including drivers as far south as Bexar County.

Weather officials say visibility will be limited to a quarter mile or less Monday morning. These conditions will make for hazardous driving conditions, prompting officials to urge drivers to slow down, use their headlights and leave ample distance with vehicles in front of them on the roads.

The fog was preceded by patchy drizzle throughout the area late Sunday with a low of 48 degrees.

The list of cities experiencing this dense fog is long, including: Including the cities of Llano, Burnet, Georgetown, Del Rio, Rocksprings, Leakey, Kerrville, Bandera, Fredericksburg, Boerne, Blanco, San Marcos, Austin, Bastrop, Giddings, Bracketville, Uvalde, Hondo, San Antonio, New Braunfels, Seguin, Lockhart, La Grange, Eagle Pass, Crystal City, Pearsall, Pleasanton, Floresville, Karnes City, Gonzales, Cuero, Halletsville, and Carrizo Springs.

Travelers Insurance provides three important tips for driving in fog:

• Slow down. Driving at normal speeds in fog can be very dangerous.
• Always headlights, never brights. Avoid using high-beam headlights in fog as fog consists of tiny water droplets that spread and reflect light.
• Stay focused on the road. Driving in fog is not a time for multi-tasking. This means no texting, please. If you must be on the phone, make sure you use your headphones to keep both hands on the driving wheel.

"Fog can be one of the most dangerous weather conditions for both new and experienced drivers," Travelers Insurance officials wrote on their website. "Fog has the potential to reduce visibility significantly, so it is critical that drivers stay focused on the road in order to stay safe."

Such conditions require a driver's full focus, officials added: "Severe weather demands your undivided attention, so be sure to reduce any possible distractions by turning the radio down or turning off that phone to keep your attention fully on the road. Keep in mind that sometimes the best driving decision you can make is to stay off the road completely until the weather clears."

For more tips on driving in severe weather such as heavy winds and heavy rain, click here.

Photo by Medena Rosa on Unsplash