Chicago, Illinois –
Drivers across the Chicago region could face sudden visibility drops to just a quarter mile during the early Friday commute as thick fog blankets northern Illinois and parts of northwest Indiana, creating hazardous travel conditions on major highways before mid-morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, a Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect until 10 a.m. CST Friday for much of northeast Illinois, including Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, and Kendall counties. Visibility may fall to 0.25 miles or less, especially near rivers, low-lying areas, and along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
The fog is already affecting heavily traveled corridors including I-90, I-94, I-55, and I-294, where sudden visibility reductions could force slower speeds during the morning commute. Cities from Rockford and Elgin to Naperville, Joliet, Aurora, and Chicago are all within the advisory zone. Drivers in Gary, Hammond, and Valparaiso, Indiana are also seeing similar conditions.
Emergency managers urge motorists to slow down, use low-beam headlights, and increase following distance. Rapid visibility drops are possible when moving between clearer areas and thicker fog pockets.
Boaters on southern Lake Michigan are also dealing with dense fog, where visibility has fallen to one-quarter nautical mile in nearshore waters from Winthrop Harbor to Michigan City.
Conditions should gradually improve late Friday morning as temperatures rise and light winds mix the air. Additional advisories could be issued if fog redevelops overnight.
