Dense fog blankets area east of Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s Jonathan Marsh captured this drone photo east of the village at sunset Saturday, showing a blanket of fog covering much of the region while the air above remained clear. Jonathan Marsh photo

By Gary West

A thick blanket of fog settled across parts of Perth, Oxford and Waterloo counties Saturday, creating challenging driving conditions and unusual photo opportunities across the region.

The fog, which drifted in throughout the day, reduced visibility for motorists to just a few feet at times, making travel difficult on rural roads.

One local resident described the conditions as constantly changing, with clear air suddenly giving way to dense patches of fog that impaired visibility without warning.

Shakespeare resident Jonathan Marsh captured the unusual scene from above using a drone east of the village as the sun began to set Saturday evening. While the fog covered much of the landscape below, Marsh’s photos show the air above the low-lying cloud remaining clear.

One motorist in Shakespeare, who previously lived in Eastern Canada, said the sudden shift in weather was typical of the region.

With temperatures reaching a balmy 15 degrees Celsius Saturday – just three days after dropping to about -15 degree Celsius – the motorist said the conditions felt familiar.

“Welcome to Southern Ontario,” he said, adding the scene reminded him of “being in the fog in southern Nova Scotia.”