Seven flights at Heathrow Airport and three at London City Airport were cancelled by 6:30am on November 9, 2026, as thick fog reduced visibility across London and the South East. The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning valid until 11am covering London and most of the South East, cautioning that fog could reduce visibility to 50 metres or less.
Meteorological Conditions Behind the Fog
Niamh Murray, an operational meteorologist at the Met Office, described the current weather as the “perfect recipe” for fog formation. She explained that the extended nights during autumn and winter allow temperatures to drop closer to the saturation point needed
for fog to develop. Light winds and clear skies have also contributed to the dense fog. “We get a longer period of cooling and also the temperatures are much lower,” Murray said, adding that if temperatures fall below zero degrees Celsius overnight, fog can be particularly persistent.
Road Travel Disruption and Safety Advice
Foggy conditions have complicated road travel as well. The M20 motorway in Kent was closed in both directions between junctions 8 and 9 near Maidstone following a pile-up involving over 30 vehicles on the previous Saturday evening. The closure lasted nearly 12 hours and resulted in serious injuries to two people. Edmund King,
president of the AA (Automobile Association), urged motorists to adjust their speed and increase the distance with the vehicle ahead during fog. He warned against relying solely on following tail lights, saying, “It can give you a false sense of security and means you may be travelling too close to react safely if that vehicle suddenly stops.” King emphasized allowing extra travel time and driving only to the visible distance.
Continued Fog and Travel Disruptions Expected
Authorities expect the thick fog to persist well into the morning on November 9, maintaining difficult conditions for both air and road travelers. The ongoing yellow weather warning underlines the
reduced visibility risks in London and the South East. Passengers at Heathrow and London City airports continue to experience cancellations, while motorists remain advised to exercise extreme caution due to low visibility and residual impacts of recent major accidents.
