The Met Office has issued a fog warning for parts of the UK as thick mist is expected to form overnight into Thursday and make the morning commute difficult. The densest fog is forecast in east Wales, central England and southern England, where lighter winds are expected after Wednesday's showers.
Driving conditions could be poor through the Thursday morning rush hour, with fog dense in places and lingering until lunchtime in some areas. That comes after a calmer spell begins to follow recent stormy weather, when a very active jet stream had sent deep areas of low pressure toward the UK.
Thursday morning commute
Wednesday is expected to bring sunny spells and showers, with rain moving across parts of the UK and temperatures of 12 to 16C in the afternoon. As winds turn lighter into Thursday, moisture near the ground is more likely to settle into fog rather than stay mixed through the air.
The practical effect is a slower start to the day for motorists crossing the affected regions. East Wales, central England and southern England are the main areas named in the forecast, and the fog may be thick enough in places to reduce visibility for longer than the first part of the commute.
UK fog into next week
High pressure is expected to build into November, and that pattern usually brings lighter winds and more settled conditions. In late autumn, though, it can also allow mist and fog to form more easily, which is why the forecast shifts from storms to calmer weather without removing the travel risk.
By Friday and Saturday, some rain is likely across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern areas of England and Wales. More mist and fog are expected to form next week, and mist and fog may once again develop across eastern and southern England as the high pressure pattern settles in.
For drivers, the immediate takeaway is simple: expect the worst visibility on Thursday morning, and allow extra time where fog is most likely to be thickest. The forecast points to a commute problem that may ease later in the day, but it also signals that fog could return again next week.
