Halloween Fog Warning: Met Office Alerts Drivers Across England and Wales

Drivers setting off early on Halloween morning are being urged to take extra care after the Met Office issued a yellow warning for fog across parts of England and Wales. The warning was issued shortly after 4am on Saturday 31 October 2026 and is scheduled to run from 4am until 10am, although some patches may linger longer.

Where is the fog warning in force?

The Met Office lists affected areas across the East Midlands, East of England, parts of London and the South East, the North West, Wales, the West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber. Places on the published list include Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, parts of Buckinghamshire, Cheshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, North Yorkshire and parts of north-east Wales.

This is not a blanket warning for every part of the UK. Local conditions can vary sharply, and a nearby road may be much clearer than a rural stretch just a few miles away. Check the Met Office's live warning map for your specific journey before leaving.

How bad could visibility become?

The Met Office says some fog patches could be dense enough to reduce visibility to below 100 metres. The warning notes that fog should gradually thin and lift later in the morning, although in some locations it may not clear until the afternoon.

That can make junctions, bends and stationary traffic difficult to spot in time. Journey times may be longer, particularly where drivers encounter sudden changes in visibility.

Five things drivers should do

The AA has issued separate advice on autumn fog. Its key message is to slow down, leave a larger gap to the vehicle ahead and make sure the car is visible. The organisation warns that automatic headlights may not switch on in fog, while daytime running lights may leave the rear of a vehicle unlit.

Use dipped headlights, not full beam, which can reflect off fog droplets. Fog lights are appropriate when visibility is seriously reduced, but they should be switched off once conditions improve so they do not dazzle other road users.

Before setting off, clean windows and lights, allow more time for the journey and check the latest road and weather updates. At junctions, take extra time to assess approaching traffic rather than assuming a quiet-looking road is clear.

What about plans later on Halloween?

The current yellow warning concerns Saturday morning. Anyone travelling to an evening Halloween event should check an updated forecast closer to departure rather than assuming the morning warning will remain in force all day.

This article reflects information available early on 31 October 2026. Weather warnings can be amended or cancelled at short notice, so the Met Office remains the definitive source for current conditions.

Sources and image credit

Sources: Met Office weather warnings, issued 31 October 2026 — https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings/gcr5wd00u ; AA fog-driving guidance, 29 October 2026 — https://www.theaa.com/about-us/newsroom/aa-urges-drivers-see-and-be-seen-autumn-fog . Image: Photo by zeynep elif ozdemir on Unsplash (illustrative).