Dense fog blankets Kenai Peninsula for third straight day

Dense fog has settled over the western Kenai Peninsula for two consecutive mornings, reducing visibility to one quarter mile along the Sterling Highway and creating hazardous driving conditions from Soldotna to Homer.

The National Weather Service Anchorage issued a dense fog advisory early Thursday morning covering the corridor from Soldotna and Nikiski south to Anchor Point. The agency issued a second advisory late Thursday night and a third early Friday morning, each time warning that the fog band had redeveloped along the western coast and moved inland over the highway.

The later advisories expanded the affected area south to near Homer.

The fog forms overnight along the Cook Inlet coast and persists through mid-morning before dissipating. Recent advisories have remained in effect until 9 a.m., covering the morning commute window when visibility drops to one quarter mile or less in spots.

Drivers are advised to slow down, use headlights, and leave extra distance between vehicles. The fog is expected to clear by mid-morning Friday.