The Met Office has issued an immediate yellow weather warning for dense fog, set to affect 16 specific areas across the UK. The alert came into force on Thursday, 15 January 2026, with less than an hour's notice before its 8pm start time.
Regions Facing Poor Visibility
The forecaster warned that visibility is expected to drop significantly across parts of Wales, North West England, and the West Midlands. The weather warning is scheduled to remain active for 11 hours, until 7am on Friday, 16 January.
A statement from the Met Office forecast detailed: "Fog patches will become more widespread and dense in places during Thursday evening with visibility falling below 100 m in places. Fog will thin and lift into low cloud late in the night or early on Friday morning."
Potential Travel Disruption and Advice
The onset of thick fog could lead to considerable travel problems. The Met Office indicated the conditions may cause delays or even cancellations to public transport services and flights. Road users are likely to experience slower journey times.
Authorities are advising motorists to take precautions to avoid delays. Recommended actions include:
- Checking road conditions before driving.
- Amending travel plans where possible.
- Leaving extra time for any essential journeys.
Full List of Affected Areas
The yellow weather warning for fog covers the following 16 local authorities:
North West England:Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Greater Manchester, Halton, Lancashire, Merseyside, Warrington.
Wales:Denbighshire, Flintshire, Powys, Wrexham.
West Midlands:Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin.
Weekend Weather Outlook
Following the foggy start on Friday, which may see lingering low cloud, the day should bring some bright spells, particularly in the east, with a maximum temperature of 8°C. The outlook for Saturday to Monday suggests a mix of sunshine and scattered showers over the weekend. Overnight, fog and patchy frost are likely to form under clear skies. Conditions are expected to turn wet and breezy from the west as Monday approaches.
