Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Drivers across portions of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia could face dangerously low visibility during the early morning commute as dense fog spreads across the region, dropping visibility to as little as one-quarter mile along several major highways.
According to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, a Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect through 10 AM Thursday across portions of eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and the northern panhandle of West Virginia. Visibility in many areas may fall to 0.25 miles or less, creating hazardous travel conditions during the morning commute.
Cities including Pittsburgh, Steubenville, Wheeling, New Philadelphia, and Zanesville are experiencing widespread fog early Thursday. Drivers traveling along I-376 through the Pittsburgh metro area, I-77 near Canton, and US-22 across eastern Ohio could encounter rapidly changing visibility conditions.
The fog extends farther west into central Ohio, where communities such as Columbus, Springfield, and Newark are also under advisories earlier in the morning. Motorists along I-70 and US-33 may see sudden drops in visibility, especially near river valleys and low-lying areas where fog tends to thicken.
Across western Pennsylvania and the Ohio Valley, fog may become especially dense along river corridors including the Ohio River and Muskingum River valleys. These areas can experience thicker fog pockets that sharply reduce visibility along highways and secondary roads.
Transportation officials urge drivers to slow down, increase following distance, and use low-beam headlights when traveling through fog. High beams can reflect moisture in the air and worsen visibility.
Conditions are expected to gradually improve later Thursday morning as daylight increases and light winds help mix the lower atmosphere. However, hazardous travel conditions may persist in some areas until around 10 AM before visibility improves.
