No snow, but dense foggy conditions creating hazardous travel over holiday weekend

SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) - While Michigan won't be seeing a White Christmas this year, another white, wispy weather phenomena is hanging around -- and causing some headaches for travelers hitting the road this holiday weekend.

A shroud of dense, heavy fog that sparked Fog Advisories up and down West Michigan and into the Lansing area has now expanded into Metro Detroit communities, reducing visibility down to half a mile -- or even less in some areas.

"Some locations may see further visibility reductions to a quarter mile or less, especially along and south of I-94," the National Weather Service said in a 10 a.m. update.

The Special Weather Statement has been posted for almost all of the Metro Detroit area, including Livingston, Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne, Lenawee and Monroe Counties.

Residents or travelers in cities like Pontiac, Ann Arbor, Detroit, Adrian, and Monroe will want to prepare before heading out onto the roadways. The NWS said residents in Lenawee County are currently affected as a region of fog works its way northward over the next several hours.

"If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you," meteorologists warned.

State Farm warned drivers to treat fog like any other hazardous driving condition, especially if it becomes dense or is combined with any other weather conditions.

According to the auto insurance provider, here's what drivers can do if they encounter foggy conditions:

• Minimize distractions. Silence your cell phone and the stereo. Put distractions like your cell phone in a place where you won't be tempted to reach for them while driving, like the glove compartment.

• Reduce your speed. Because you can't see the road or other vehicles, a low speed can help you react safely.

• Roll down your window. This allows you to listen for cars and emergency vehicles.

• Use roadside reflectors as a guide. The markings can help you navigate twists and turns.

• Turn off cruise control. This will maximize your control of your vehicle.

• Use windshield wipers and defrosters. These will help limit excess moisture on the window and reduce glare.

• Drive with low beams and fog lights. High beams/brights can worsen visibility because they reflect off the fog.

• Use the right edge of the road as a guide. Helps you stay in your lane and not "drift" into the middle lane.

• Increase your following distance from other cars to ensure you have the proper time to respond to any obstacles. A good rule of thumb is to increase your count distance by at least 5 seconds instead of the normal 2 seconds behind another vehicle.

• Beware of animals on the road. Animals, especially white tail deer, feel bolder under cover of fog and are much harder to see. The lowered visibility in dense fog means less time for you to see them, and for them to see you.

The fog will persist for most of the day as forecasters say the chance of showers continues to linger, mainly before 1 p.m. Most of Metro Detroit will see cloudy conditions in addition to the fog while highs reach near near 46.

The NWS said there will be a chance of sprinkles before 10 p.m. on Saturday, with another chance of light rain showers after 1 a.m. on Sunday. Areas of fog are expected to impact Metro Detroit again during the early morning hours as conditions remain cloudy with a low around 42.

Sunday morning will look like a copy of Saturday with dense fog impacting areas before 11 a.m., the NWS advised. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 51 for Christmas Eve.