This article is more than 8 months old

This article is more than 8 months old

Passengers flying to and from some of the UK’s busiest airports are being told to expect delays caused by thick fog.

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning covering southern parts of England and Wales from 5pm until 11.59pm on Monday. Visibility will be reduced to less than 100 metres in the worst-affected areas, according to the alert.

A spokeswoman for the air traffic control provider Nats said dense fog was “likely to cause disruption to normal flight operations overnight and into tomorrow”.

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She added: “We will be working closely with the airlines and airports to minimise the disruption, but passengers should contact their airline for the latest information on their flight.”

In foggy conditions, the spacing between aircraft for landing is increased by up to 50% as air traffic controllers switch to using radar systems. Such weather can also make it more difficult for planes to move between runways and terminal buildings.

A spokesman for Gatwick, the UK’s second busiest airport, said it was expecting “minor delays but nothing significant”.