On November 9, 2026, thick fog caused multiple flight cancellations at Heathrow Airport and London City Airport in London. A yellow weather warning was in place until 11am covering London and most of South East England, disrupting air travel in the region.
Flight Disruptions and Visibility Limits
By 6:30am on November 9, seven flights departing from Heathrow and three from London City had been cancelled. The fog reduced visibility to 50 metres or less, severely affecting airport operations. The Met Office forecasted difficult travel conditions across London during the morning.
Meteorological Conditions Behind the Fog
Met Office operational meteorologist Niamh Murray described the current weather as the “perfect recipe” for
fog formation. 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.” She added that “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.” The conditions included light winds, clear skies, long nights, and lower temperatures contributing to fog across London and the South East.
Travel and Road Safety Impact
Besides air travel disruptions, motorists face heightened danger amid low visibility. AA President Edmund
King urged caution: “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.” King warned against simply following rear lights, saying, “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.” The M20 motorway in Kent was closed for nearly 12 hours after a pile-up near Maidstone in
fog on November 7, seriously injuring two people.
King emphasized, “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.” Travelers on November 9 were advised to prepare for delays and exercise caution while driving in foggy conditions.
