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Met Office issues weather warning as UK conditions create ‘perfect recipe’ for fog
The Met Office has issued a yellow fog warning for parts of the UK, warning that reduced visibility could disrupt travel from Sunday evening until Monday morning. Meteorologists say clear skies, light winds and long autumn nights are combining to create favourable conditions for dense fog.
The warning covers most of southern England and all of the Midlands, as well as pockets of northern England and Wales; fog may also occur elsewhere across the UK. Visibility could fall to 50 metres or less, with bus, train and flight delays or cancellations possible. Rural areas including parts of the Midlands, Wales and East Anglia may see the densest fog, and air frost is possible. Slow-moving rain could bring 50 to 70mm to parts of the drought-hit south-west.
In short
- Dense fog could disrupt UK travel until Monday morning.
- Visibility may fall to 50 metres or less.
- Rain may bring up to 70mm to parts of the south-west.
Explained simply
Fog forms when air near the ground cools enough for water vapour to condense into tiny droplets, reducing how far people can see. In autumn, long nights allow the ground to lose heat; clear skies and light winds can help the air close to the ground cool and keep the fog from dispersing quickly.
The Met Office is the UK’s national weather service. Its warnings alert the public and organisations such as transport operators to weather that could cause disruption, so travellers may face delays or need to allow extra time.
Poor visibility can affect road, rail and air travel, particularly in rural areas where fog may be thicker. Rainfall is a separate weather risk: heavy rain can cause local flooding, and some parts of south-west England have experienced drought conditions.