Champaign, Ill. – Thick fog rolled across east central Illinois early Thursday, cutting visibility to under a quarter mile and creating hazardous conditions for morning drivers from Bloomington to Paris.
According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, dense fog is expected to linger until at least 8 a.m., with the greatest impact in rural areas where visibility is already severely limited. Cities such as Champaign, Danville, and Kankakee are inside the main concern area, along with key routes like I-57 and I-74.
Drivers are urged to slow down, allow extra stopping distance, and use low-beam headlights. Sudden drops in visibility may occur, especially on back roads and highways outside of town. Emergency services recommend delaying travel if possible during the early morning hours.
This low-visibility event could affect school transportation and work commutes across several counties. Similar fog conditions impacted the region last July, leading to a spike in early morning accidents.
Conditions are expected to improve after 8 a.m., but updates will follow if the fog persists longer than anticipated.
