Springfield, Missouri – Drivers across southwest Missouri and parts of southeast Kansas are waking up to dangerous road conditions Friday as dense fog blankets the region, cutting visibility to a quarter mile or less in many areas.
According to the National Weather Service in Springfield, a Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect until 10 a.m. Friday for a wide swath of counties including Greene, Jasper, Polk, Christian, Vernon, and Taney, as well as Bourbon and Crawford counties in southeast Kansas.
Interstates and rural highways—including I-44, US-60, and MO-13—are expected to be especially hazardous during the morning commute. Springfield, Joplin, Branson, and Bolivar are among the cities seeing the thickest fog, with rapid visibility changes likely on both urban and rural routes.
Officials urge drivers to slow down, use low-beam headlights, and maintain extra space between vehicles. School districts and early morning commuters should be prepared for delays, particularly in hilly or low-lying areas where fog tends to settle.
The fog is expected to lift by late morning, but patchy conditions may linger in valleys and wooded areas. More visibility issues could develop early Saturday if overnight humidity remains high.
