Thick fog disrupts morning travel as yellow weather warnings in effect

Dense fog is disrupting morning travel across much of the United Kingdom on Monday, with the Met Office issuing yellow weather warnings for fog across England and eastern Wales until 11:00 and a separate warning for Northern Ireland until 10:00.

The larger warning covers a wide stretch of southern and central Britain, from Canterbury to Cardiff and from Hull to St Asaph, including London, Birmingham and parts of Greater Manchester. Visibility could fall to less than 50 metres in places, making driving difficult and raising the risk of delays or cancellations to bus, train, ferry and flight services. The fog is expected to lift gradually through Monday morning, although forecasters say some patches could linger into the afternoon. Commuters also face a chilly start, with temperatures widely in low single figures and ground frost likely in many areas.

Already a difficult weekend on the roads

Monday’s fog follows a hazardous weekend. Thick fog blanketed parts of England and Wales on Saturday night and was blamed for a 30-car pile-up on the M20 in Kent that left two people seriously injured, as well as a 19-car collision on the A303 in Hampshire. The same conditions made an FA Cup match between Altrincham and Notts County farcical for spectators, with players barely visible at times. Heathrow Airport has advised anyone driving to the airport to allow extra time because overnight fog has affected visibility on roads in the area, and has told passengers to check with their airline before leaving home and to drive with care.

Why fog is worse this morning

Fog forms when air cools and water vapour condenses into tiny droplets suspended close to the ground, effectively creating cloud at ground level. Mist forms in the same way but is less dense, with visibility generally above 1,000 metres. Forecasters say fog will be more widespread on Monday night and into the morning because clearer skies across England and Wales allow heat to escape more quickly, causing temperatures to fall. Patchy fog could also develop outside the formal warning area in northern parts of the UK wherever skies remain clear for long enough for the ground to cool.

Advice for drivers and passengers

The Met Office advises drivers to check road conditions before setting off and to use fog lights when visibility is seriously reduced. Motorists are told to allow extra time for their journey and to adjust their plans if necessary, because patchy fog can be particularly dangerous as visibility can change suddenly. The RAC recommends leaving extra stopping distance between vehicles. AA president Edmund King has warned against one of the biggest mistakes drivers make in fog, simply following the rear lights of the car in front, which he says can give a false sense of security and mean travelling too close to react safely if that vehicle suddenly stops. Passengers using public transport or flying are advised to check for updates from their operator, as flights may be delayed because aircraft need greater spacing when landing in fog.

Why it matters

For much of the UK, the fog warning matters because it hits at the start of the working week, when roads, railways and airports are busiest. Even short-lived fog can cascade into hours of disruption if it coincides with the morning rush hour, as operators reduce speeds and increase separation between vehicles and aircraft. The weekend pile-ups on the M20 and A303 show how quickly visibility of 50 metres or less can turn a routine journey into a multi-vehicle collision. With winter darkness, ground frost and low sun adding to the hazards, transport agencies are keen for commuters to build in extra time rather than rushing in poor visibility.

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What happens next

The Met Office warnings for England and Wales and for Northern Ireland are in force until 11:00 and 10:00 respectively on Monday, after which the fog should thin in most areas. Some inland and elevated spots may hold on to mist into the afternoon, and further fog is possible on subsequent clear nights this week. Drivers should continue to check forecasts and road reports before travelling, leave greater following distances, use fog lights correctly and avoid following tail lights too closely. Rail, ferry and air operators are expected to update passengers through the morning if delays develop. No further warnings have been announced beyond Monday morning at the time of reporting.