Dense fog blankets parts of southern Minnesota, metro area

Several schools were delayed as visibilities were below 100 feet in some areas, and authorities advised motorists to travel with caution.

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: February 25, 2008 - 8:20 AM

A thick blanket of fog reduced visibilities to one-eighth of a mile in portions of the Twin Cities this morning, but it apparently did not have an adverse affect on traffic, a spokesman for the Regional Transportation Management Center said.

But the fog is having an impact on schools, as several school districts and private school have delayed starts this morning.

A dense fog advisory remained in effect until 9 a.m. today for a large portion of south-central, southeastern and east-central Minnesota, stretching from the Iowa border through Albert Lea and Rochester, the Twin Cities, Brainerd and Hinckley.

The fog lasted through the morning rush hour. So far the fog has not had an adverse impact on the morning commute, with lighter-than-normal levels of traffic reported on area roads at 7 a.m. The weather service says some patchy and freezing drizzle may also be found. Some glazing of surfaces with ice is being reported, so bridges and overpasses may become slick. Later today areas of southern Minnesota could see accumulating snow as a system passes through Iowa.

Rain and freezing rain mixing with snow has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Winter Weather Advisory for the Mankato area and Rock, Nobles, Jackson, Martin and Faribault counties along the Minnesota-Iowa border. In the Twin Cities today, there is a 20 percent chance of snow along with areas of fog lifting by noon.

Today's high will be 34 degrees under cloudy skies with northwest winds between 8 and 13 mph. Tonight there is a 20 percent chance of snow before midnight. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 16 with north and northwest winds between 13 and 18 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

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