Weather
Michigan Weather Alert: Detroit Fog Returns Through Oct 26
Detroit, MI – Thick fog reducing visibility to a quarter mile or less is creating hazardous driving conditions across southeast Michigan Friday morning, Oct. 23, prompting the National Weather Service
By Evan Cross · 2026-10-23T09:18:00.219Z
Detroit, MI – Thick fog reducing visibility to a quarter mile or less is creating hazardous driving conditions across southeast Michigan Friday morning, Oct. 23, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Dense Fog Advisory through 10 a.m. The early morning hazard affects the Detroit metropolitan area, Flint, Ann Arbor, Pontiac and numerous surrounding communities. Although sunshine is expected to return later Friday, additional fog is forecast during the early morning hours through Monday, potentially affecting several consecutive commutes across the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Detroit/Pontiac, the advisory covers portions of southeast Michigan, including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Genesee, Washtenaw, Livingston, Monroe, St. Clair and several neighboring counties. Visibility could fall to one quarter mile or less in dense fog, making it difficult for drivers to see vehicles, intersections and roadway changes ahead. An earlier Special Weather Statement also warned that visibility could drop to a half mile or less as fog spread westward.
Dense Fog Creates Morning Travel Concerns The advisory, issued at 4:38 a.m. Friday, identifies low visibility as the primary travel hazard. Conditions could change rapidly along major transportation corridors, including Interstate 75, Interstate 94, Interstate 96 and Interstate 696. Drivers traveling between Detroit, Pontiac, Flint and Ann Arbor may encounter sharply reduced visibility, particularly in locations where fog becomes most concentrated.
Motorists should reduce speed, use low beam headlights and increase following distances when encountering dense fog. High beam headlights can reflect off suspended moisture and make visibility worse. Drivers should also avoid abrupt braking whenever possible and allow additional time for morning travel. The advisory does not establish specific highway closures or confirmed traffic delays.
At Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport in Detroit, the National Weather Service reported light rain, fog and mist with a temperature of 51 degrees at 3:53 a.m. Friday. Humidity was 100%, with a north wind around 3 mph. Those observations illustrate the moisture rich conditions accompanying the fog, although visibility may vary considerably across the broader region.
Fog Could Return Through Monday Morning The immediate advisory is scheduled to expire at 10 a.m. Friday, but the local forecast indicates that fog may remain a recurring morning concern. Patchy fog is expected after 2 a.m. Saturday, followed by improving conditions after approximately 9 a.m. Sunshine should then push afternoon temperatures toward 65 degrees.
Another round of patchy fog is forecast after 2 a.m. Sunday, with conditions improving after 9 a.m. Temperatures could reach 68 degrees Sunday afternoon, making it the warmest day in the supplied weekend outlook. Sunday night will bring additional patchy fog after 2 a.m., continuing into Monday morning before mostly sunny skies develop.
The recurring fog forecast does not mean the current Dense Fog Advisory automatically extends through Monday. Additional advisories would depend on updated National Weather Service assessments of visibility and driving conditions.
Sunshine Returns Before a Tuesday Cooldown Outside the fog prone morning periods, southeast Michigan can expect relatively comfortable autumn weather. Friday afternoon should become mostly sunny, with temperatures reaching 64 degrees and north northeast winds around 3 to 5 mph. Saturday and Sunday will remain generally dry, with overnight lows near 44 degrees before temperatures moderate Sunday night.
Monday, Oct. 26, will bring another mostly sunny afternoon, with temperatures reaching approximately 66 degrees after patchy morning fog. However, a cooler pattern is expected Tuesday, when mostly cloudy skies accompany a high near 59 degrees. Wednesday should recover to approximately 64 degrees, followed by a mostly sunny Thursday with temperatures near 68.
For southeast Michigan residents, the most immediate concern remains Friday's dense fog and the potential for additional visibility restrictions during upcoming morning commutes. Drivers should monitor updated National Weather Service advisories before traveling, particularly when visibility deteriorates quickly.
Have you encountered unusually thick fog during your morning commute around Detroit or elsewhere in southeast Michigan?
Five Day Weather Outlook Friday 10/23: Areas of fog before 9 a.m. will give way to mostly sunny skies and a high near 64 degrees, with north northeast winds of 3 to 5 mph; tonight will bring patchy fog after 2 a.m. and a low near 44 degrees.
Saturday 10/24: Patchy fog before 9 a.m. will give way to sunshine and a high near 65 degrees, with light east northeast winds; Saturday night will be mostly clear before patchy fog develops after 2 a.m., with a low near 44 degrees.
Sunday 10/25: Patchy fog before 9 a.m. will give way to mostly sunny skies and a high near 68 degrees, with south southwest winds of 5 to 7 mph developing in the afternoon; nighttime temperatures will fall near 49 degrees, with fog possible after 2 a.m.
Monday 10/26: Patchy morning fog before 9 a.m. will give way to mostly sunny conditions and a high near 66 degrees, while Monday night will turn mostly cloudy with temperatures falling near 45 degrees.
Tuesday 10/27: Mostly cloudy skies will accompany a cooler afternoon, with temperatures reaching approximately 59 degrees; Tuesday night will remain mostly cloudy, with temperatures falling near 44 degrees and no significant precipitation indicated in the supplied forecast.
Extended Weather Outlook Wednesday, Oct. 28, is expected to bring partly sunny skies and a high near 64 degrees, followed by a partly cloudy night with temperatures around 47 degrees.
Thursday, Oct. 29, should bring mostly sunny conditions and a high near 68 degrees, suggesting a return to milder afternoon temperatures.
The supplied National Weather Service forecast does not establish a significant storm threat or provide verified precipitation probabilities for the following six to 10 day period. Additional extended range developments remain uncertain