According to local officials, a dangerously thick “superfog” that caused a massive automobile pileup north of New Orleans on Monday was exacerbated by adjacent wildfires.
In incidents involving at least 158 automobiles in the northern and southbound lanes of Louisiana’s Interstate 55, seven individuals were killed and more than two dozen more were wounded. The incidents, which left a mile-long path of crumpled and burnt automobiles, were caused in part by an abnormally deep layer of fog.
The reduced visibility was caused by a “superfog,” which arises when moisture in the air combines with smoke from burning brush, leaves, and trees in marshy marshlands.
According to the National Weather Service, superfog can reduce visibility to less than 10 feet, with the most extreme cases resulting in near-zero vision.
Related Posts
“Under light wind conditions, superfog meanders through low terrain areas such as creek beds or drainage ditches,” according to the organization, adding that the thick fog may be extremely dangerous when it settles over roadways.
The superfog in Louisiana was at its heaviest early Monday and had mainly dissipated by the afternoon, while fog advisories remained in effect for a tiny portion of the state on Tuesday.
Superfog is uncommon, although it does occur on occasion in the South, where marsh fires, calm breezes, and humidity can combine to generate thick layers of fog.
According to the meteorological service’s New Orleans division, many marsh fires have been burning throughout the region.
Local officials stated Monday that dense fog was “heavily impacting” areas of the highway and advised travelers to avoid the region and drive carefully.
“Do not stop on the road when there is near zero visibility as this will cause an accident!” warned the New Orleans weather service. “Instead pull off to the shoulder or take the nearest exit to surface streets if you are on the interstate and are uncomfortable driving in the dense fog.”
Despite the fact that they both impair vision, superfog differs from smog, which arises when air pollution mixes with fog to generate hazy conditions that can cause major health concerns.
The majority of Louisiana is in the grip of significant dryness, increasing the frequency of marsh fires and consequently the likelihood of superfog conditions.
