UK weather: Met Office warns of travel delays as freezing fog hits – after temperatures drop to -6C

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© Licensed to London News Pictures. 23/01/2023. London, UK. Foggy conditions for drivers on the A3 in Wimbledon south-west London this morning as weather forecasters warn of a polar vortex with freezing fog and lows of -3c today and in to Monday. However, the cold snap is expected to lift by Wednesday of next week. Photo credit: Alex Lentati/LNP

THE Met Office has warned of travel delays as freezing fog hits for the second day.

It comes as temperatures plummet to -6C in parts of the UK.

Commuters battling the fog in London

People walking along the Windsor Great Park in the thick fog

A runner in Oxfordshire braved the conditions


A yellow weather warning for fog has been issued today

The cold snap crept in on Monday with conditions worsening in parts today.

A yellow weather warning for fog has been issued across the west of England, the midlands and parts of Wales.

Advice was issued to commuters to avoid travel if possible.

The Met Office said: “Freezing fog will lead to difficult driving conditions and could cause travel delays in some areas.

“Some icy surfaces [are] also possible.”

Slower journey times are expected as well as delays to bus and train services.

Conditions have meant visibility has fallen below 200 metres in some areas.

The warning is in place until 10.30am today with the fog starting to clear this afternoon.

Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, saw freezing temperature of -6C this morning.

Warwickshire, Peterborough and Yeovil will see conditions drop to -5C.

Meanwhile, Cambridge and Milton Keynes could see lows of -4C.

These are the six things you can do to make your journey safer this morning:

  • Avoid travel if possible
  • Drive very slowly with dipped headlights, full-beam lights reflect off the fog causing a ‘white wall’ effect
  • Keep an eye on your speed, fog can give the illusion of moving in slow motion
  • Use fog lights, but remember to turn them off when the visibility improves
  • Don’t hang on the tail lights of the car in front, rear lights can give a false sense of security
  • Watch out for freezing fog which is made of water droplets that freeze on contact with objects such as the pavement and the road. It can quickly form a layer of ice