On Monday morning, November 9, 2026, thick fog over London resulted in the cancellation of seven flights at Heathrow Airport and three at London City Airport by 6.30am. The fog limited visibility to 50 metres or less, disrupting early air traffic.
Met Office Issues Weather Warning
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning covering London and most of South East England until 11am. Operational meteorologist Niamh Murray said the current weather conditions were ideal for fog formation due to long autumn and winter nights, cooling temperatures, and light winds. She explained, “With autumn and winter and getting fog during this time of year, we
get much longer nights, and that allows temperatures to fall away. We get a longer period of cooling and also the temperatures are much lower, so they’re much closer to the temperature that we need for the air to become saturated and therefore form fog.”
Road Disruption Caused by Multi-Vehicle Crash on M20
Road travel was also affected over the weekend when more than 30 vehicles were involved in a pile-up on the M20 motorway in Kent near Maidstone. The crash occurred between junctions 8 and 9 in foggy conditions on Saturday evening, leading to the closure of the motorway in both directions for nearly 12 hours. Two
individuals were seriously injured in the incident.
Official Advice for Drivers in Fog
Edmund King, president of the Automobile Association, cautioned motorists about driving safely in fog. He advised drivers to reduce speed, increase the distance from the vehicle ahead, and avoid following the rear lights of other cars too closely. King said, “Fog can transform a familiar road in a matter of minutes, so drivers need to be prepared to adapt their speed and leave more room between themselves and the vehicle ahead.” He added, “Ultimately, there’s no prize for arriving a few minutes early. Give yourself extra time, slow down and drive to what
you can actually see ahead.”
The fog conditions seen on Monday morning are typical in London and the South East during autumn and winter, when longer nights and cooler temperatures frequently cause reduced visibility that disrupts both air and road travel.
