Hagerstown, Maryland – Visibility has dropped below one-quarter mile in pockets of freezing fog across western Maryland, northern Virginia and eastern West Virginia, creating slick and hazardous travel conditions through 9 a.m. Tuesday.
According to the National Weather Service in Baltimore/Washington, a Freezing Fog Advisory remains in effect until 9 a.m. EST for Central and Eastern Allegany County in Maryland; Frederick and Clarke counties in Virginia; and Hampshire, Morgan, Berkeley, Jefferson and eastern Mineral counties in West Virginia. The fog is dense enough to sharply reduce visibility while coating untreated bridges and elevated roadways with a thin glaze.
Drivers along Interstate 68 near Cumberland, Interstate 81 through Martinsburg and Winchester, and rural routes in the Shenandoah Valley may encounter sudden visibility drops, especially in low-lying areas and near rivers.
Motorists should slow down, use headlights on low beam and increase following distance. Allow extra time for the morning commute and remain alert for icy patches on overpasses and shaded roads.
Conditions are expected to improve quickly after 9 a.m. as temperatures rise and fog dissipates, but lingering damp spots could remain slick into mid-morning.
