Seven flights departing from London Heathrow Airport and three from London City Airport were cancelled by 6:30am on November 9, 2026, due to dense fog disrupting flight operations. Both airports experienced delays and cancellations as visibility dropped to 50 metres or less during the morning.
Met Office issues yellow weather warning for fog in London and South East
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning covering London and most of South East England until 11am on November 9, warning of low visibility caused by thick fog. The fog negatively impacted flights at the region’s major airports during the early morning.
Meteorological conditions behind fog formation explained
Met Office operational meteorologist Niamh Murray attributed the fog to seasonal and
environmental factors common in autumn and winter. “With autumn and winter and getting fog during this time of year, we get much longer nights, and that allows temperatures to fall away,” she said, adding that lower temperatures lead air to saturate and form fog. Light winds and clear skies further contributed to the fog’s development in London and South East England.
Safety warnings issued following fog-related motorway crash
Low visibility also caused a crash involving more than 30 vehicles on the M20 motorway near Maidstone, Kent, which remained closed for almost 12 hours prior to the morning of November 9. AA president Edmund King advised motorists to
reduce speed, increase distance from the vehicle ahead, and avoid relying on taillights as a guide during fog. “Fog can transform a familiar road in a matter of minutes,” King said.
King emphasized, “One of the biggest mistakes is simply following the rear lights of the car in front. 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.” He urged drivers to allow extra travel time and adjust their speed to the visibility.
These measures come amid travel disruptions at key London airports and
serious road hazards linked to the dense fog conditions that persisted through the morning of November 9.
