Dense fog has caused significant travel disruptions and dangerous driving conditions across multiple provinces in northern and eastern China, leading to highway closures and visibility dropping to less than 20 meters in some areas.
The severe weather impacted major road networks in provinces including Hebei, Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu, forcing many highways to close.
In Hebei, one of the most affected regions, the city of Handan reported visibility falling below 20 meters early Friday. Drivers were compelled to use fog lights and emergency signals to navigate the roads.
Authorities in Henan issued a yellow fog warning starting Thursday evening, affecting more than 30 cities, including the provincial capital, Zhengzhou. Visibility in these areas was reduced to less than 200 meters, making morning commutes difficult.
To the east, Jiangsu province saw three expressway entrances in Lianyungang city shut down at 2 AM on Friday. They reopened later in the morning as the fog began to dissipate.
Anhui province also enacted a yellow fog warning, with thick fog blanketing areas north of the Yangtze River, including its capital, Hefei.
Data from the Anhui Meteorological Bureau indicated visibility in many locations fell below 500 meters, with some areas seeing it drop under 200 meters. This led to the temporary closure of over 85 highway toll booths, which also reopened later Friday morning.
Officials have advised residents in northern and eastern China to exercise caution. The warning specifically covers early morning and evening periods through the weekend, anticipating a potential return of dense fog if high humidity and calm winds persist.