Miami woke up to a warm, murky mess on Friday, February 27, as dense fog mixed with wildfire smoke and chopped visibility down to almost nothing on inland roads. Temperatures sat in the upper 60s to low 70s, and drivers along Alligator Alley and nearby rural stretches faced a slow, nerve-wracking commute until the fog could lift.
Where The Smoke Is Making Fog Even Worse
Smoke from a wildfire near Big Cypress is layering on top of the fog and making conditions even trickier. Pockets of thick haze have already triggered temporary closures on parts of I-75 between SR-29 and US-27. For a deeper look at the fire and related shutdowns, check out our earlier coverage on the smoke choking Alligator Alley.
Dense Fog Advisory And Travel Tips
The National Weather Service in Miami has a Dense Fog Advisory in effect through 9 a.m. Friday, February 27, with visibility in some inland spots expected to drop to a quarter mile or less. Drivers are urged to slow down, stick with low-beam headlights, leave extra room to stop, and avoid crossing Alligator Alley if they can until the air clears, according to the National Weather Service.
Today And Weekend Outlook
Once the fog finally burns off, expect some lingering patchy smoke early, mainly between about 7-8 a.m., before skies turn mostly sunny. Highs should reach near 79°F along the coast, with a bit more heat inland. A slight chance of showers and an isolated thunderstorm arrives late Friday night, while Saturday, February 28, offers the best shot at afternoon showers and a few storms. Forecasters note a small chance that one of those Saturday afternoon cells could briefly turn strong and gusty.
Rain totals look light overall, with most spots seeing under a quarter inch and only isolated areas picking up a few tenths of an inch, so this round of wet weather is not expected to bring broad, meaningful drought relief.
Quick Safety Notes
If you are driving this morning, ease off the gas, keep those low beams on, and allow roughly double your usual following distance. If you hit a patch of near-zero visibility, pull safely off the roadway and wait it out rather than pushing ahead blind. Beachgoers should be alert for localized rip-current issues along Palm Beach County beaches, and anyone with respiratory problems would be wise to limit time outside while smoke is hanging around. Before heading into rural areas, check official park and traffic updates, since closures or detours may still be in place.
