Residents in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia are dealing with reduced visibility and hazardous driving conditions due to widespread dense fog this morning. Visibility in some areas has been reported at a quarter mile or less, leading the National Weather Service (NWS) in Jacksonville, FL to issue a Dense Fog Advisory which is in effect until 9 AM EST today. The Dense Fog Advisory warns that "Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog" is present in portions of Northeast and Northern Florida, as well as Southeast Georgia.
"Locally Dense Fog, with visibility less than one half mile, will continue to impact portions of inland southeast Georgia and most of northeast and north central Florida through this morning," the NWS reported in a Special Weather Statement. Adding to the complications, patches of drizzle are likely to accompany the fog. Drivers are advised to slow down, use headlights, and maintain extra distance between vehicles. In addition, visibility may drop quickly over short distances, representing a sudden hazard for motorists.
Along with foggy conditions, coastal regions are also facing a High Rip Current Risk through late tonight. The NWS advisory, extending from Coastal Nassau in Florida to Coastal Camden in Georgia, cautions against dangerous rip currents that can "sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water". Beachgoers are urged to swim near lifeguards and if caught in a rip current, are advised to relax, float, and not swim against the current.
The coastal hazard message released by the NWS Jacksonville also includes an action plan for those unable to escape a rip current: "If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help." Furthermore, foggy conditions are expected to continue affecting the area throughout the day, with a 50% chance of showers and possible thunderstorms predicted for the upcoming Sunday. The NWS anticipates new precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, suggesting a drizzle that may persist but not overly saturate the region.
