Current:Home > reviews'Super fog' causes multi-car pileup on Louisiana highway: Police-VaTradeCoin
'Super fog' causes multi-car pileup on Louisiana highway: Police
lotradecoin advanced trading options View Date:2024-12-25 22:41:00
A "super fog" in Louisiana has caused a multi-car pileup on Interstate 55 near New Orleans, Louisiana, after severely lowering visibility, according to police.
The crash, involving dozens of cars, occurred on Monday morning due to heavy fog conditions, according to Louisiana State Police. A long stretch of Interstate 55, a 24-mile-long highway over Lake Pontchartrain near New Orleans, is expected to be closed "for the foreseeable future," police said.
Interstate 10 and Interstate 310 were also closed as a result of the crash, police said. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards confirmed the accident in a statement Monday that there were fatalities in the crash, but did not say how many people were killed or injured.
MORE: Heavy fog in Europe causes major delays and epic pictures
For hours after the crash, emergency crews worked to clear debris from both northbound and southbound lanes, according to state police.
The super fog was caused by smoke from marsh fires burning in the region combined with dense fog developing in the area early Monday morning bringing extremely low visibility. In some spots, visibility was near zero, creating dangerous driving conditions.
Super fogs typically form when condensed water vapor mixes with the smoke and moisture released from damp organic material smoldering from a nearby fire, such as brush, leaves and trees, according to the National Weather Service. Visibility can be lowered to less than 10 feet as a result, according to the NWS.
This has been occurring in the region over the past several mornings, with the location of the densest fog and most dangerous conditions varying day to day, forecasts show.
MORE: Spatial disorientation in fog cited in Black Hawk crash that killed 11
Super fogs can be especially dangerous when they develop near and over highways. The localized nature of the weather phenomenon means that visibility conditions can worsen rapidly within a very short distance, which can lead to a hazardous combination of sudden low to near-zero visibility and vehicles traveling at a high speed on a highway.
The very limited visibility then hinders a driver's ability to react to changing conditions on a roadway.
The National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory for much of southeastern Louisiana on Monday morning, including from Baton Rouge to New Orleans.
Over the past several days, the National Weather Service has been warning of the threat of dense fog during the early mornings in the region that would be worsened in some areas by nearby marsh fires. State police advised drivers to use their low-beam headlights if they can't see at least 500 feet in front of them.
The fog dissipated by mid Monday morning, and all fog alerts have since been canceled.
MORE: See the dense fog that brought Dallas to a standstill
While areas of smoke will continue to be possible in the area as various marsh fires continue to burn, fog is not forecast to be a major issue Monday night, as weather conditions will be less favorable for fog development.
Morning fog is not uncommon this time of the year for the region, but more than 86% of the state is currently battling extreme drought conditions, which is elevating fire danger. This could mean more instances of super fog in the coming days and weeks as cooler temperatures settle in, but the drought and wildfire risk persist.
In addition, devastating drought and wildfire conditions continue to impact Louisiana. More than 60% of the state is now categorized at exceptional drought, the highest category of concern, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Just three months ago, 0% of the state was listed under exceptional drought.
"The combination of wildfire smoke and dense fog is dangerous, and I want to encourage all Louisianans in affected areas to take extreme caution when traveling," Edwards said in a statement.
State troopers are working to notify families and investigate the exact cause of the crash, according to state police.
It is unclear how many fatalities and injuries occurred as a result of the crash. The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office directed media requests to Louisiana State Police.
Additional information was not immediately available. Louisiana State Police did not immediately reply to ABC News' request for comment.
veryGood! (385)
Related
- Sabrina Carpenter reveals her own hits made it on her personal Spotify Wrapped list
- A Florida man turned $10 into $4 million after winning $250k for life scratch-off game
- National Pasta Day 2023: The best deals at Olive Garden, Carrabba's, Fazoli's, more
- Birthday boy Bryce Harper powers Phillies to NLCS Game 1 win vs. Diamondbacks
- Atmospheric river and potential bomb cyclone bring chaotic winter weather to East Coast
- Khloe Kardashian's Son Tatum Hits Udderly Adorable Milestone at Halloween Party
- Birthday boy Bryce Harper powers Phillies to NLCS Game 1 win vs. Diamondbacks
- Horror as Israeli authorities show footage of Hamas atrocities: Reporter's Notebook
- When is the 'Survivor' Season 47 finale? Here's who's left; how to watch and stream part one
- Jada Pinkett Smith Reveals Why She and Will Smith Separated & More Bombshells From Her Book Worthy
Ranking
- Southern California forecast of cool temps, calm winds to help firefighters battle Malibu blaze
- New York judge rejects Indiana ex-U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer’s request to remain free pending appeal
- Suzanne Somers, star of 'Three's Company' and 'Step by Step,' dead at 76
- 1 dead, 2 injured by gunshots near a pro-democracy protest in Guatemala
- When is the 'Survivor' Season 47 finale? Here's who's left; how to watch and stream part one
- Natalee Holloway Case: Suspect Expected to Share Details of Her Death 18 Years After Disappearance
- Russian parliament moves to rescind ratification of global nuclear test ban
- Gen. David Petraeus: Hamas' attack on Israel was far worse than 9/11
Recommendation
-
Kylie Kelce's podcast 'Not Gonna Lie' tops Apple, Spotify less than a week after release
-
'Specter of death' hangs over Gaza as aid groups wait for access, UN official says
-
President Biden condemns killing of 6-year-old Muslim boy as suspect faces federal hate crime investigation
-
'Specter of death' hangs over Gaza as aid groups wait for access, UN official says
-
Hate crime charges dropped against 12 college students arrested in Maryland assault
-
'We're not monsters': Community mourns 6-year-old amidst fears of anti-Muslim hate
-
How much is that remote job worth to you? Americans will part with pay to work from home
-
Mandy Moore Reveals What She Learned When 2-Year-Old Son Gus Had Gianotti-Crosti Syndrome