Foggy weather to last several days

COLUMBIA BASIN — National Weather Service expects the foggy weather in the Moses Lake area to last at least through the weekend.

A dense fog advisory was issued by the organization’s Spokane office late Monday afternoon. The advisory was applied to the cities of Ephrata, Grand Coulee, Moses Lake, Othello, Quincy and Ritzville in Grant and Adams counties.

Fog impacted visibility along highways and interstates in northeastern Washington and northern Idaho, according to the advisory.

“A dense fog advisory means visibility will frequently be reduced to less than one quarter mile,” the office noted. “If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.”

Forecaster Bob Tobin said high pressure is building along the coast.

“It’s going to move inland … over the next few days and stay with us through the weekend,” Tobin said.

High-pressure systems are made up of warm air moving above cool air, he said.

“You’re going to have periods of fog and stratus (clouds) there for the next several days,” Tobin said.

He said the weather will likely last into the weekend, and it may stay foggy through Monday and Tuesday.

“Right now we don’t have a good idea of when it’s going to be done for sure,” Tobin said.

The high pressure keeps storm systems from moving into the area.

“It’s just going to be a stagnant high pressure,” Tobin said.

Daily weather forecasts are available for viewing on page A2 of the Herald, or on our home page at columbiabasinherald.com.