Seven flights departing from Heathrow Airport and three from London City Airport were cancelled by 6:30 am on November 9, 2026, amid thick fog covering London and much of South East England. The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning effective until 11 am, forecasting visibility reductions to 50 metres or less across the region.
Fog Formation and Weather Conditions
The disruptions stem from dense fog caused by the combination of longer nights, cooling temperatures, light winds, and clear skies typical of autumn and winter in the UK. Niamh Murray, a Met Office operational meteorologist, described these conditions as a “perfect recipe” for fog formation,
explaining that lower temperatures near air saturation levels and light winds allow fog to develop and persist, especially when temperatures approach or drop below freezing.
Travel Impact and Road Conditions
Passengers at Heathrow and London City experienced flight cancellations and delays on the morning of November 9. Concurrently, hazardous conditions extended to the road network, with a major crash involving over 30 vehicles on the M20 motorway in Kent near Maidstone. The incident occurred on Saturday evening under foggy conditions and forced closure of the motorway between junctions 8 and 9 for nearly 12 hours. Two people sustained serious injuries.
Safety Advice from Authorities
Authorities urged motorists and travelers
to exercise caution during fog conditions. Edmund King, president of the Automobile Association (AA), emphasized that fog can rapidly reduce visibility on familiar roads, requiring drivers to reduce speed and increase vehicle spacing. King warned against following another car’s rear lights too closely, calling it a “false sense of security” that can impede safe reactions. He advised allowing extra travel time and adjusting driving to actual visibility.
These warnings align with the Met Office’s forecast, which noted that fog could remain stubbornly persistent, especially if temperatures fall below zero degrees Celsius. The combination of chill and low wind speeds contributes
to prolonging fog presence on November 9.
