The Met Office has issued a stark warning to residents in four parts of southern England as a blanket of freezing fog threatens to cause significant travel chaos, including potential flight cancellations and delays.
Areas on Alert for Freezing Fog
The national forecaster has activated a yellow weather warning for freezing fog, which is in force from Thursday night into Friday morning. The alert specifically covers the counties of East Sussex, Kent, Surrey, and West Sussex.
Meteorologists warn that visibility could plummet to below 100 metres in places, creating hazardous conditions. The fog is expected to develop overnight on Thursday following a day of rainfall, which may also lead to patches of ice on untreated surfaces.
Expected Travel Disruption and Flight Impacts
The primary concern is severe disruption to transport networks. The Met Office explicitly states there is a chance of delays or cancellations to flights operating in and out of affected regions. Road and rail users are also urged to prepare for slower journey times and possible delays to bus and train services.
"Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, leaving extra journey time, or amending plans if necessary," the warning advises. Drivers are reminded to ensure their fog lights are working correctly before setting off.
Bitterly Cold Temperatures Grip the Nation
The fog warning comes as the UK endures a sharp temperature drop. Overnight, the mercury is forecast to fall below freezing, with parts of southern England and Wales potentially seeing lows of -1°C.
Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: "As the sun sets, temperatures will fall away sharply into Thursday night, particularly in the southeast of England, where patches of ice and fog could develop overnight." He added that Friday would bring further unsettled conditions, with rain and strong, gusty winds spreading from the southwest, making for an "unpleasant evening rush hour."
The broader forecast indicates a continuation of wet and windy weather across the UK into the weekend, with warnings of potential localised flooding in western areas due to already saturated ground.
