Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a Yellow-level fog advisory on February 1, 2026, for the Whitecourt and Woodlands County area in Alberta after dense fog reduced visibility across parts of the Highway 43 corridor.
ECCC’s Yellow-level alerts indicate impacts that are moderate, localized and/or short-term; the agency’s standard safety advice for drivers is to slow down, use low‑beam headlights, and leave plenty of distance from the vehicle ahead if visibility is reduced. Local reports and dispatch logs indicated patches of near‑zero visibility on high‑speed sections of Highway 43, creating hazards for morning commuters and heavy commercial drivers.
Alberta 511 and road‑maintenance partners monitor conditions on Highway 43. The Whitecourt area — at the confluence of the Athabasca and McLeod rivers — is susceptible to valley fog, where cold air and river moisture can become trapped and cause visibility to drop rapidly on short stretches of highway.
The Coalition for Safer Alberta Roads notes Highway 43 is a major trade route for the forestry and energy sectors and is particularly vulnerable to collisions during low‑visibility events. Drivers are encouraged to check Alberta 511 and the Town of Whitecourt’s road‑maintenance page for the latest travel updates before heading out.
