Drivers across parts of Durham Region faced difficult conditions Tuesday morning after Environment Canada issued a fog advisory warning that visibility could fall to near zero in some areas.
The Durham fog advisory was issued for Pickering, Oshawa and southern Durham Region early Tuesday, Sept. 1, as dense fog developed following Monday’s wet weather.
Northern Durham communities, including the Uxbridge and Beaverton area, were also included in Environment Canada’s Ontario fog alerts.
Motorists were advised to allow additional travel time and be prepared for rapidly changing visibility.
Fog reduces visibility around Oshawa
Conditions were particularly poor during the morning hours.
At Oshawa Executive Airport, Environment Canada reported fog at 9 a.m., with visibility reduced to approximately 0.8 kilometres.
The temperature was around 20 C, while relative humidity was reported at 100 per cent.
Environment Canada classified the fog advisory at a moderate impact level with high forecast confidence.
The agency warned that visibility could become near zero in some locations.
Drivers travelling on Highway 401 and local roads through Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa should be prepared for sudden changes in visibility where fog remains locally dense.
Motorists should slow down, leave additional distance between vehicles and use appropriate vehicle lighting when travelling through fog.
Fog expected to improve during the day
The fog was expected to gradually dissipate during the morning as temperatures increased.
Conditions around Oshawa were forecast to become mainly cloudy before transitioning to a mix of sun and cloud during the afternoon.
Temperatures were expected to reach approximately 27 C, with the humidex making conditions feel warmer.
The improvement in visibility does not necessarily mean completely settled weather for the remainder of Tuesday.
Environment Canada’s Oshawa forecast calls for a 30 per cent chance of showers later in the afternoon, along with a risk of thunderstorms.
Thunderstorm risk follows Monday’s heavy rain
Tuesday’s unsettled conditions follow significant rainfall across parts of Durham Region and the Greater Toronto Area on Monday.
That rainfall helped create moist conditions favourable for fog development overnight and into Tuesday morning.
The weather pattern is expected to remain unsettled.
Tuesday night carries another chance of showers and a risk of thunderstorms, while Wednesday is expected to bring another period of cloudy and potentially showery weather.
Residents should therefore continue monitoring updated forecasts even after visibility improves.
Other Ontario alerts don’t apply to Durham
Several different weather alerts were issued elsewhere in southern Ontario Tuesday, but they should not all be treated as Durham warnings.
The Kingston area was dealing with a separate heavy-rain and thunderstorm statement, while Windsor and Essex County remained under a heat warning.
Those alerts apply to their respective regions and should not be presented as warnings for Durham residents.
For Durham, the primary morning concern was the fog advisory affecting both southern and northern parts of the region.
The Durham fog advisory is another reason motorists should check current conditions before travelling, particularly because localized fog can vary considerably over short distances.
Drivers should continue following Environment Canada advisories and adjust their speed and following distance whenever visibility deteriorates.
