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Weather Service Issues Dense Fog Advisory

TBO.com photo by KEVIN BRADY

Downtown Tampa was swathed in a blanket of fog Sunday morning.

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TBO.com

Published: December 23, 2007

The National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory for the Tampa Bay area this morning.

"Widespread areas of fog have developed across most of the region overnight," the weather agency said in a statement. "Visibilities [are] now dropping to below a quarter mile over most of the area."

The advisory remains in effect until 9 a.m.

"This fog will continue to thicken and spread toward the Gulf Coast. Conditions will begin to improve after sunrise," the statement said.

The advisory covers Levy, Citrus, Sumter, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota and De Soto counties.

Motorists should slow down, use low-beam headlights and maintain a safe distance between vehicles, the statement warned.

If you need to drive in the fog, follow these tips:

* Make sure you can stop within the distance you see, and drive slowly before entering a patch of fog.

* Drive with low beams on, since high beam lights will reflect back off the fog and impair vision even more.

* Keep on the lookout for slow-moving and parked vehicles.

* Open your window to hear better outside.

* Defrost your windows and use your wipers.

* Turn off your radio and cell phones so you can focus better on the road.

* Use the right edge of the road and painted road markings to guide you.

* Avoid changing lanes and passing other vehicles.

* Signal well before turning.

* Don't stop on heavily traveled roads or freeways.

Source: Florida Highway Patrol

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