Knoxville, Tenn. – Drivers across East Tennessee and neighboring mountain regions woke up to dangerous visibility Friday morning, as dense fog blanketed roads from Chattanooga to the Tri-Cities and into southwest Virginia. Visibility has dropped to a quarter-mile or less in many areas, making travel risky during the early commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Morristown, a Dense Fog Advisory is in effect until 9 a.m. EDT (8 a.m. CDT) for a wide swath of the region, including cities such as Knoxville, Chattanooga, Morristown, Johnson City, and Bristol, as well as mountain communities in southwest North Carolina and southwest Virginia.
Key roadways such as I-40, I-75, and US-11 may see delays and hazardous driving due to limited sightlines. Drivers are urged to use low beams, slow down, and maintain extra following distance. The fog is particularly thick in valleys and near rivers, where moisture remains trapped overnight.
The advisory affects more than 70 counties, including Blount, Sevier, Sullivan, Hamilton, Roane, and Unicoi. This is one of the season’s most widespread fog events and follows a stretch of warm, humid nights.
Fog is expected to lift after 9 a.m., but drivers should remain cautious on shaded roads where visibility may linger. Further advisories are possible over the weekend as humid air persists.
