Chicagoans faced a dreary Wednesday shrouded in dense fog, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a dense fog advisory across nearly the entire state and the majority of Indiana. The advisory, which was set to expire at 10:00 a.m., warned of visibility dropping to a quarter mile or less, leading to perilous driving conditions. Despite the expected lift of the advisory, the dense fog was forecasted to persist throughout the day and into Thursday, NBC Chicago reported.
Periods of dense fog will continue through Thursday across northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana. When traveling, slow down, increasing following distance, and use low beam headlights. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/ScdnfrVXuh
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 24, 2024
Commuters were advised to "slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you," as visibility at O'Hare International Airport dropped below half a mile. Wednesday afternoon offered a slight respite with drier conditions, but another system moving in Thursday afternoon promised to bring more rain into the area, with "Thursday evening will be soggy", as meteorologist Alicia Roman indicated.
According to the detailed forecast by NWS, Chicago will see highs nearing the 40-degree mark over the next several days. After enduring the fog, the city will see highs of 39 degrees on Thursday, climbing to 40 degrees over the weekend, and possibly reaching up to 50 degrees as the calendar flips into February.
The Hazardous Weather Outlook detailed by the National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville station further mentioned that Saturday and Sunday are likely to witness hazardous conditions for small craft on Lake Michigan's nearshore waters, posing dangers to smaller vessels. While the concern for fog is considered limited after Thursday, mariners and boaters are advised to stay informed on the latest weather updates.
