Paducah, Kentucky – Drivers along the Missouri-Kentucky border are navigating near-zero visibility early Monday as dense fog reduces sightlines to one quarter mile or less, creating immediate hazards for the morning commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, a Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect until 9 a.m. CST for western Kentucky counties including McCracken, Ballard and Hickman, and for southeast Missouri counties including Scott, Mississippi and New Madrid. Visibility may fall below a quarter mile at times, especially in low-lying areas near the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.
Travel along I-24 in Paducah and I-55 near Sikeston and Cape Girardeau has become increasingly difficult as fog thickens before sunrise. MoDOT and KYTC crews are monitoring major river crossings, where temperatures briefly dipping near freezing could create isolated slick spots on bridges and overpasses.
Motorists should slow down immediately in dense fog, switch to low-beam headlights and increase following distance. Avoid sudden braking, particularly on elevated roadways where moisture can freeze first.
Conditions are expected to gradually improve by mid-morning as temperatures rise and fog lifts. Additional advisories could be issued if visibility fails to rebound later Monday.
