Dense Fog to Impact Tri-Cities Commute: Driving Tips & Weekend Rain Forecast

Tri-Cities drivers should prepare for areas of dense fog on their Friday morning commute, with visibility potentially reduced until 1 p.m.

The National Weather Service reports that visibility could drop to as low as a quarter of a mile starting Thursday in areas of higher elevation in Eastern Washington and Oregon. Dense fog was forecast for Thursday afternoon and evening above 2,000 feet, in areas like the Blue Mountains, and was expected to expand to lower elevations overnight.

Much of the Tri-Cities sits at around 400 feet in elevation, though Badger Mountain reaches almost 1,600 feet.

While the fog is expected to clear somewhat Friday afternoon, patchy fog is still possible in the Tri-Cities after 7 p.m. Friday and continuing until 10 a.m. Saturday. However, this fog is not anticipated to be as dense as earlier in the week. With overnight lows forecast in the mid to high 30s, the fog is not expected to freeze in the Tri-Cities area.

Drivers encountering dense fog should slow down and use their low-beam headlights, or fog lights if equipped, according to the weather service. High-beam headlights can create glare, making it harder to see. Drivers are advised to follow lane markings to maintain proper positioning on the road.

In extremely dense fog, the weather service recommends turning on hazard lights and, if possible, pulling into a parking lot or as far off the road as safely possible. Once stopped, turn off all lights except hazard flashing lights.

The forecast for fog will be followed by a chance of rain this weekend. There is a 30% chance of rain Saturday night, increasing to 60% on Sunday.

Monday is expected to be sunny, but partly to mostly cloudy weather is forecast from Monday night through Wednesday night.