Police urge caution from drivers amid foggy Vancouver conditions

For the second day in a row several parts of Metro Vancouver were blanketed with heavy fog during the morning commute.

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a fog advisory for Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster, before it was eventually lifted just after 1p.m.

Some of the most severe conditions were in Burnaby, where a thick, white haze seriously affected the vision of motorists.

Local RCMP says there were no major accidents, however with more gloomy conditions expected throughout the winter, it is asking drivers to proceed cautiously.

“The first thing I’d say with any weather conditions, especially fog, is just to slow down,” said Cpl. Mike Kalanj.

“Leave yourself enough space between yourself and the car in front of you that can stop in that space. Otherwise, you’re looking for trouble there,” he said.

Kalanj is also asking drivers to use the right headlights. 

“When you put your high beams on all you’re really doing is illuminating the fog,” he said.

“Your low beams and fog lights if you have them are actually safer because they’re focused on the road.”

The fog first rolled into the region on Sunday night, a completely normal seasonal pattern, according to Environment Canada.

“We just had the winter solstice a few weeks ago, which means the sun is very low angle to the sky, and doesn’t have much power,” said Warning Preparedness Meteorologist Armel Castellan.

“Whenever we have moisture make its way to the ground usually through rain or snow, we can then trap that moisture underneath a ridge of high pressure, and that’s what we’ve seen the past few days,” he said.

Castellan says either rain or wind will be needed to prevent the fog from returning Wednesday.