How does a superfog develop?

Marsh fires, light winds, dampness, and humidity combine to create the superfog phenomenon. The smoke particles can attract water particles. The low-terrain areas are where the super-fog settles, like the low-elevation areas in Louisiana. The superfog can result in less than 10 feet of visibility - potentially down to 0. It can also occur very rapidly.

What happened?

Multiple marsh fires were reported by the New Orleans weather service in the area at the time of the accident. The smoke combined with water vapor in the air. The catastrophic 155+ vehicle accident resulted in 7 deaths.

A truck driver, Ronald Britt, was charged for negligent homicide for driving at unsafe speeds, resulting in the death of James Flemming and serious injuries of his wife. A truck containing hazardous materials was safely removed from the accident, avoiding the flames and preventing a potentially deadly explosion.

Can we make this more preventable in the future?

Fog lights have been a standard. They have a sharpened and widened beam and are set to illuminate the ground. While their functionality is beginning to be integrated into the headlights of newer vehicles, their functionality and use impacts remain an applicable tool.

Some recommend sensing technology like radar and thermal imaging. Radar appears to be the recommended option. The radio frequencies are not impacted by visibility at all. Thermal imaging can capture signatures from pedestrian movement, bicycle tires, or vehicle engines. LiDAR, on the other-hand, uses lasers for one of the most precise scans available. These lasers, however, tend to bounce off of heavy snow or fog particles. Today, there are some LiDAR systems available with real-time filtering, decreasing the impacts of scattering lasers. Today, many vehicles are equipped with cameras. There are camera solutions that use AI to filter fog particles from imagery to guide vehicles and drivers. Beyond this, there are regular developments of sensors for earlier detection.

A more widespread impact of superfog events is climate change. Sustainability efforts across the board can decrease the impacts of not only superfog occurrences, but other catastrophic natural events as well.