Fog warning issued for New Orleans after Causeway crash | Weather

Local weather forecasters issued a dense fog warning for the entire New Orleans metropolitan area Tuesday morning, hours after fog blanketed the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway and caused a series of car accidents that injured several people.

According to the National Weather Service in New Orleans, the fog warning goes into effect at midnight and ends at 10 a.m. Wednesday. It covers much of southern Mississippi and southeastern Louisiana, including the parishes of New Orleans, Baton Rouge and St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, St. John the Baptist, Plaquemines, Lafourche and Jefferson.

Forecasters said fog could make visibility difficult for drivers overnight and early Wednesday morning, especially on roads that pass over water. Those who must travel should drive slowly and use headlights, forecasters said.

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Both sections of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge were closed just after 8:30 a.m. Tuesday after multiple car accidents were reported in both directions.

While some news outlets estimated that 40 to 50 vehicles were involved in the accidents, Causeway CEO Carlton Dufrechou could not confirm that number and said he did not know the exact total number of vehicles involved.

The Bonnet Carre Spillway was also closed briefly this morning due to poor visibility.

As of 2:30 p.m., the Causeway was still closed in both directions.