Dense fog along the M5 stretch around Birmingham and through Worcestershire made for treacherous driving conditions today (14th February). Motorists were caught up in dramatic scenes in the morning between West Bromwich Junction 1 and Junction 8, south of Malvern.
The Met Office issued a ‘yellow’ alert for fog between 3am and 10am covering half the country, mainly from the east of England to the East Midlands. But overnight fog also remained in the West Midlands, including on the M42 around Solihull.
It comes as Met Office meteorologists have warned that there is a chance of snow in the first weeks of March. Their long-range forecast for between February 28 and March 14 read: “Temperatures are expected to be mostly around average, but a period of cooler or much cooler temperatures remains a small possibility and could bring bouts of winter weather.”
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Drivers caught in fog around Birmingham complained that many were not using their fog lights. Photographer Andy Neale tweeted: “The number of cars pulling into Birmingham this morning with no lights is mind boggling. Absolute idiots.”
Carol commented: The thick fog here in the Midlands and the number of people driving without lights is staggering. Maybe they think they have to pay for electricity to turn them on.”
Another said visibility was only 100m max in the mist in the Midlands. There were grisly scenes along the busy M5 with traffic barely visible through the haze of Highways England cameras. You can view a selection of these photos in our image gallery below.
While Olivia White posted a photo of the train line disappearing into dense fog with the caption “Road to nowhere this morning.”
The Met Office has warned that there is a risk of haze and fog forming, as well as patchy rural frost from tonight through tomorrow morning (February 15) with a minimum temperature of 2°C.
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