Huge swathe of the country including London hit by severe freezing fog warning

07 February 2023 , 23:27

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A weather warning for freezing fog is in place on Wednesday (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)

Travel alerts have been issued for the morning rush hour as freezing fog is set to sweep across much of the UK.

A yellow Met Office weather warning is in place for southern England and East Anglia from 3am until 11am on Wednesday morning.

London is among the areas expected to be affected, with Bristol, Norwich and Exeter also included in the warning zone.

Visibility could be reduced to as low as 50 metres in some places, causing potential issues on the roads.

Slower journey times are likely, according to the national forecaster's warnings, with delays to bus and train services also possible.

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There is also the potential of delays or cancellations to flights in the morning due to poor visibility.

Weather for Wednesday 8 February 2023 (Met Office)

The fog is expected to clear by midday after developing through the night and early morning.

A warning from the Met Office said: "Patches of freezing fog are likely to become more widespread towards dawn on Wednesday, particularly along river valleys and across eastern and southern England, with the visibility as low as 50 to 100 metres in a few places.

"Fog will slowly thin and clear later on Wednesday morning."

Motorists planning to head out in the fog have been advised to drive very slowly with dipped headlights - as full-beam lights reflect off the fog, causing a 'white wall' effect.

Drivers have been asked to take special precaution, as this type of fog can cause sudden icy conditions (Maureen McLean/REX/Shutterstock)

It is also important to keep eye on your speed, says the Met Office, as fog can "give the illusion of moving in slow motion".

One additional risk posed by freezing fog is airborne water droplets, which can freeze on impact with hard surfaces such as the pavement, roads, and cars, meaning drivers should be prepared for sudden icy conditions.

It comes after a chilly week in many parts of the nation, with temperatures again dropping below freezing for the third consecutive night in a row in the south of England and Midlands.

A separate weather warning has been given by the Met Office for high winds in the northwest of Scotland, which will be in place from 6am to 5pm on Wednesday.

Strong south to southwesterly winds will likely bring "some travel disruption" and dangerous coastal conditions, the forecaster said.

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Gales are also forecast across other parts of Scotland before calming in the evening, with wintry showers possible across the far north later on.

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas